Quiet Your Soul …

Happy Wednesday! You’re halfway through the week – way to go!

Most of us are operating with a low-grade sense of anxiety always lurking in the background. Even if things are going great for you, they are different. And adjusting often causes us some stress. If things aren’t going great for you, this is even more true. Today, we are talking about what if might look like if we operated differently.

What would happen if we decided to quiet our souls?

I had a conversation with Pastor Jan recently asking her about ways to use our breath to calm our souls. She reminded me of a favorite verse of hers from Psalm 131: 2 – but I have stilled and quieted my soul. We are going to turn it into a simple prayer:

Lord, still and quiet my soul.

Our resource today is a type of prayer called breath prayers. It is a way for us to use something that we do all day, everyday to draw us back to God. Here are some simple ways for us to practice breath prayers in our lives.

  • breathe in through your mouth and out through your nose – naturally and unforced
  • visualize a place or image that makes you feel at peace while focusing on your breath – you could even put that image as the background of your device for school or phone
  • breathe in peace, breathe out anxiety; breathe in grace, breathe out forgiveness; breathe in love, breathe out fear
  • if you find yourself stressed by the news and state of our world, imagine your breath as a fog – as you pray for a specific place or situation, imagine sending your breath to that place and covering it

Reflecting on breath is one of my favorite ways to remember God’s presence. In Genesis, scripture says that God’s Spirit hovered over creation. The Hebrew word used for “Spirit” is the same word that means “breath.” God spoke and things came to be. It was the power of the Spirit, His breath, that put the world into motion and sustains life today.

This means our breath is a reminder for us that the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us, and that we are never alone.

We can use breath prayers to start or end our day, as we’re walking through the hallways, when we are feeling stressed, or when we sit down to read our Bibles and pray. They are simple yet powerful, and we can carry them with us wherever we go.

Grace and peace,
Jenny

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Just Be Still …

It’s Tuesday – in my opinion, the most challenging day of the week.  There is nothing wrong with Tuesdays at all.  But they often leave me feeling overwhelmed.  It’s still early in the week, so the weekend feels far away.  And to-do lists often seem impossibly long.  But rather than allowing the stress of a Tuesday to win out, I’m learning – slowly, but surely – of the power of silence and stillness.

So, today we reflect on ways to just be still.

I have two resources to share with you today, instead of one.  Both are apps.

The first is called the Centering Prayer app.  I use this every day as part of my quiet time routine, but it can also be used as a stand alone practice or visited more than once a day.  The thing I have really loved about this app is that is provides customizable structure and makes space for silence and stillness.  When you open the app, you can adjust it to your needs by choosing prayers, scriptures, sounds, and the length of your stillness (anywhere from 1-99 minutes!).  It is based on the teachings of Thomas Keating and has been SUCH a gift to me.

Centering Prayer app

The second is called the Pause app.  Jordan uses this app to provide him with a way to pray and reset – especially if anxiety is trying to take hold.  This app was developed by author John Eldredge and his team as a way to cultivate a culture of stillness in their lives and in their workplace.  This is another customizable option, but is very straightforward.  It offers simple statement prayers, quiet pauses, and beautiful images to help calm our weary spirits.

Pause app

It is easy to jump back onto the hamster wheel as school ramps us – regardless of the way you and your family are learning this year.  The hope we have in Christ reminds us that we don’t walk through challenges alone.  Stillness reminds us of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, and provides a space to lay our fears and our worries at the feet of Jesus.

As you might know, Moses is one of my favorite people in the Bible.  His story is so remarkable, and he, in so many ways, was so ordinary.  He was flawed and made mistakes, but his faith was big (at least most of the time).  And God used him in mighty ways.

After the first Passover, Moses leads the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt.  All seems to be going well until they get to the Red Sea.  The Israelites start to fear and complain as Pharaoh and his army approach – they even wish they had stayed slaves and never left Egypt.  But Moses says in Exodus 14:14 –

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

That is a beautiful reminder to me in this season of life.  God is for us.  He will fight on our behalf.  He only asks us to be still.

Whether you use these apps in the morning or at night, while you brush your teeth or walk down the halls, there is an opportunity for us to weave stillness into the fabric of our everyday lives.  And I hope it is a gift to you the way it has been for me.

Grace and peace,

Jenny

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Quiet Time Resources

We’ve discussed that this quarantine is a BRILLIANT time to start or reset a quiet time practice. While we don’t have our normal daily routines, we do have some extra time on our hands, and this would be a great way to utilize the gift of time. Marcy and I have compiled some of our favorite resources in this post!

When looking at a quiet time routine, these are some basic tools that you can mix and match to build something that fits you well. (This is not an exclusive list, but a good starting place.)

  • prayer
  • silence/meditation
  • scripture reading
  • journaling
  • devotion/book reading
  • worship songs
  • reflection/gratitude

When starting a quiet time routine, choose 2-3 of these and give them a try.  If you don’t know what to pray, choose a Psalm.  And if you don’t know what scripture to read, start with a Gospel and read through it a chapter or so at a time.

There are lots of different resources available to help you with quiet time.  Here are some helpful reminders.

  • Daily resources – devotions or reading plans that are matched with a day of the calendar year (correspond with a specific date)
  • Topical resources – devotions or reading plans that are grouped by themes or ideas (joy, anxiety, forgiveness, grace, etc)
  • Print media – physical resources such as Bibles, books, or journals
  • Digital media – apps, podcasts, records, websites, playlists, audiobooks, etc

Below, you’ll find descriptions and examples for some popular resources that could be helpful for you!

Devotions

Jesus Calling: This devotion by Sarah Young is a daily reading that offers a meditation, scripture reading, and a prayer.  This is a great introductory resource and can provide you with structure and content while you develop a routine that works for you!

The Blue Book: The Blue Book by Jim Branch is a weekly devotional on different topics such as “Fear” “The Dance” “Waiting” and about 49 other topics.  His devotions include an opening and closing prayer, a psalm for the week, a daily passage, and different quotes, poems, and stories from people who have learned about the lord in this certain topic.  Then, there is a song to listen to for the week, prayer, and journaling listed.  I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to further their intimacy and awareness of the Lord.

Every Moment Holy:  This is a modern liturgy for everyday life. There are blessings and prayers for almost anything you can think of: dating, medical procedures, morning coffee, social media, and feeling awkward in social groups.  This is yet another resource to show God is with you in your everyday life, even in modern context.

The Book of Common Prayer: This is a similar, lofty, perhaps, resource to give liturgy to everyday life.  There is liturgy for the season of Lent, the Daily Office (prayers for different times of ordinary days), and many common places and occasions.  This book is a great day to show that even long ago, feelings and prayers relate to our feelings and prayers today for the Lord.

Apps

YouVersion Bible App: YouVersion is a super common bible app including the whole Bible, a daily verse, and many plans to give you a devotional daily as well as a daily Bible Reading.  This offers tons of topical and daily plans that you can subscribe to.  It also has a feature where you can link up with friends and go through plans together!

Through the Word: Through the word is Ramsey’s favorite online resource to learn about the historical context, themes, and general explanation of books of the bible. There are about six minute segments on passages of the bible, taking you through whole books of the bible.  There are additionally plans on wisdom, leadership, beginning, and other themes of that sort. 

Podcasts

The Bible Recap – A daily podcast that corresponds with a chronicle reading of the Bible on the YouVersion app.  About 6-9 minutes per day that helps you understand the scripture you just read!

The Next Right Thing – A weekly podcast about decision making from a Biblical perspective.  Did you know the average person makes over 35,000 decisions a day?  BONKERS.  This podcast helps us see the small things of life as holy.

BibleProject – A weekly podcast that dives deep into scripture and provides in-depth conversations about the Bible and theology.  There are also videos available at bible project.com

Books

The Liturgy of the Ordinary:  This is a book all about taking regular things like brushing your teeth or eating leftovers and changing your perspective to see them as sacred.  A completely transformative and very practical look at our everyday lives!

The Ministry of Ordinary Places:  This book by Shannon Martin gives an account of everyday finding the Lord in small, ordinary places like cracked gravel or the moon in the morning.  It is transformative in the way that God can lead you in daily life through paying attention.

The Chronicles of Narnia:  An incredible, fantastical book series about the magical land of Narnia.  It’s an extended metaphor/allegory about Jesus’ love for us.  The characters are interesting and the stories are compelling.  And C.S. Lewis is Jenny’s favorite theologian, you’ll see why when you read this series.

Mere Christianity: This C.S. Lewis classic is a compilation of essays that were pulled from his incredible WWII radio broadcasts and turned into one of the world’s most influential books on becoming a Christian.  It is a bit dense and will require you to chew on the text – so it might take you a long time to get through it.  But it is so worth it!

The Jesus Storybook Bible:  This is actually a children’s Bible, but is designed to tell the stories of scripture like, well, stories.  It almost reads the way fairy tales do.  It might seem strange to have a kids book on the list, but reading familiar stories in this way will change the way you look at scripture!

Authors to Consider

  • C.S. Lewis
  • Henri Nouwen
  • Frederick Buechner
  • Emily P. Freeman
  • Annie F. Downs
  • A.W. Tozer

Do you have questions or other resources you’d like to add to the list?  Email Jenny at jcross@churchstreetumc.org!

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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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Advent Craft Fest Welcomes the Season

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On December 1, church members and guests welcomed the Christian new year (Advent) with a potluck dinner, fellowship, a performance of Christmas songs by our youngest choir, and plenty of festive crafts at our annual Advent Craft Festival. Enjoy photos and a video of the event below.

Watch a performance by our youngest choir!

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Intern Interview – Hadley

Meet our youth intern Hadley!

Name

Hadley O’Hara

School Info

Sophomore at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
English Major with a Minor in Secondary Education

What you want to be “when you grow up”?

When I grow up, my dream is to be a High School English teacher and be able to pour into students. I hope to encourage them to be the best version of themselves and realize that education and a hunger for learning will open many doors and ultimately improve our society and communities.

If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

If I could eat one food for the rest of my life, it would be Chick-Fil-A waffle fries, with ranch of course!

What made you want to pursue this internship?

I wanted to pursue this internship so that I could give back to the program that gave so much to me growing up as a member. I wanted to get to love on students and help them realize the enormous love and grace a relationship with Christ offers.

What are some ways you experience God’s presence?

Some of the ways I experience God’s presence is through other people and the callings God places in my life. This could look like a friend responding or affirming something too perfectly to lack God’s presence or a nudge in a direction that places me slightly outside my comfort zone.

What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

I wish I could tell my younger self that you will have people that will be able to walk with you through the valleys and mountaintops. I would tell her that the mountaintops will not be too steep and you will be stronger on the other side.

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Intern Interview – Ramsey

Meet our youth intern Ramsey!

Name

Ramsey Michael Owens

School Info

Sophomore, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

What you want to be “when you grow up”?

Owner of the Boston Red Sox

If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Chicken of all varieties 

What made you want to pursue this internship?

I wanted to grow in God’s grace and help kids learn about the Agape love that surrounds us

What are some ways you experience God’s presence?

Nature is where I hear God most clearly.

What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

Love everyone no matter what

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Intern Interview – Marcy

Meet our youth intern Marcy!

Name

Marcy Sullivan

School Info

Sophomore, Global Studies and Leadership Studies

What you want to be “when you grow up”?

When I grow up, I want to be a good person! That’s the first goal. Secondly, I want to research different cultures, different cool people doing cool things, and different musics and maybe publish research or articles on these findings.

If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

If I could eat one food, my brain screams QUESADILLA and my heart screams WAFFLE HOUSE.  So, I will follow my heart.

What made you want to pursue this internship?

This internship came at an amazing time in my life where I couldn’t put my finger on what God was calling me to.  I felt like doors were closing, and I was shutting doors for other college ministry positions or being a young life leader.  When Jenny talked to me about applying, I knew all these closings had led me to this opening! It was exactly what I was supposed to do.

What are some ways you experience God’s presence?

I experience God’s presence through the ways He gives me grace.  In my prayer, when I finally say something that holds some truth, it is a gift from the Holy Spirit.  In reading the word, the same goes.  When we serve and give our life away, walking closely with things that are unlike ourself, God shows himself there to me.

What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

I wish I could tell my younger self thank you for being so silly! It has made growing up wonderfully funny.

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All About NightLife

Our 2019 writing team captain, Caroline Powell, had a conversation with one of our students, Ann Clark Bellamy, following our first NightLife together.  Here is what they said:

“NightLife is honestly my favorite part of my week. I look forward to it every week because it is such a great way to step out of the hustle of my busy week and to find peace in God’s love. I love getting to spend time in fellowship and worship before I start my school week. Each week, we get to eat dinner in fellowship, play games, worship and sing together. This year, I hope that the group learns more than ever. Our youth program is so special and I really hope that we all get the most out of it. The leaders do the absolute best with leading us in worship and making it so fun! I hope this can be the best year yet!”

Ann Clark Bellamy, sophomore

“Last week the youth group had our first NightLife of the year and it was a great success! As we continue with our study of Galatians, I hope you all decide to come give NightLife a try! I promise you won’t regret it!”

– Caroline Powell, junior

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A Note from Alex about Internships

Hi Church Streeters,

I am writing this as a way to sum up what the youth internship at Church Street has meant to me.

When I started talking to Jenny about the youth internship she told me there was one huge thing to keep in mind: youth ministry will wreck you. I couldn’t wrap my head around what that would mean at the time, but I jumped head first into this job when Jenny had Cooper. I went into this job thinking I would get some teaching experience and go on the retreats that I had loved attending as a student. I received so much more than a line on a resume and a few weekends off campus. I expected to teach the lesson each week, maybe have some laughs with the students, then go home. I didn’t know I would go home and tell my roommates about the incredible answers youth would share at Nightlife. I didn’t know I would lay awake worrying about them. I didn’t know I would feel so proud when they came to church talking about the soccer game their team won, or the play they got that part in, or the driving test they passed. I didn’t know I would love them so much sometimes it makes me cry.

Over time, Church Street started to feel like the home it was for me as a youth again. I tried plenty of campus ministries and other churches in college, but none ever felt truly like home for me. I went into being the youth intern with a lot of assumptions about what I thought I would get out of it and what I thought I could offer.

It took me a year at this internship to know what Jenny meant about youth ministry wrecking a person. I was going thru the photos for the legacy wall being set up after the youth area renovation. I started with the oldest digital photos on file from around 2004. I saw the smiling faces of so many people I grew up with. I saw all of the braces phases and home tie-dyed shirts. I kept getting distracted thinking about how all of these people were out in the world living their lives now. Most of them were in college or working, some were getting married, a few were traveling the world. All of them started out as silly brace-faced middle schoolers learning about the love of Jesus. They sat in the same rooms for Nightlife and went on the same retreats I had. Through those pictures, I watched all of my peers grow up. I realized that the the legacy of Church Street was this opportunity in youth to offer students what home feels like. I grew up with so many incredible people at Church Street. People who went out into the world with a solid foundation of how home felt: full of love, grace, and support. Home feels like safety and people who ask about your sports and arts. Home feels like people who point you to Jesus when you feel lost. Home feels like people leaning in and loving you in your most awkward years when you don’t even know who you are. This internship gave me the gift of seeing the whole picture. I got to be a part of this legacy of people who are loved by this group. Then I got to come back and give love to new students.

I finally get what Jenny meant. Youth ministry wrecks you because it cracks open your heart and lets everyone in. It wrecks you because you feel every high and low with the youth. It wrecks you because it has to feel like the way Jesus loves us all and always has room to love a few more. Youth ministry showed me that there is always room for another person to find out what home feels like.

I am not sure how to end this except to say thank you. Thank you to all of the people who volunteer with Church Street Youth for being so loving and supportive. Thank you to these students for welcoming a me into their lives. Thank you to Jenny for giving me a chance to be wrecked in the very best way by youth ministry.

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