Weekly Prayer – 06/24/2026

 

Week of June 24, 2026

Rev. Tim Best

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Gracious God,

In the rhythms of a full week we seek peace and hope in your midst. Settle our hearts and calm our spirits as we gather before you to offer our thanks and praise, and to seek your intercession for the needs amongst us.

Vacation Bible School enters it’s third night as this prayer is shared with our congregation. Care and guide each and every child connected to our church. Make this community a people and a place where the stories of the Bible are shared, where the lessons of scripture embodied, and even difficult lessons are taught in ways that bring children closer to you and imbue them with a love for the Bible. Give strength and stamina for all of those who work with children. May joy and purpose always fill the hearts of those who teach, guide, and mentor.

Make your peace prevail in the hearts of all people. We give thanks for the progress made towards a peaceful resolution of hostilities with Iran. We continue to pray for peace between our nations, and for peace among all the peoples of the earth. Guide the hearts and minds of the leaders of nations that your will may shape their actions. Give strength and wisdom to our state and local leaders, that justice for all prevails.

See the needs of the sick and the hurting. Care for those who are in the hospital, rehab centers, or other facilities. Nurture and provide for those who suffer alone. We pray for those who undergo regular treatments and those who are facing surgeries and procedures. Guide and direct our church family to support and assist the sick and the suffering. Sustain all of our ministries for those who are sick and in any sort of trouble.

As the final week of June stretches before us we pray for all of the change and transition in our midst and in the lives of so many in our community. We offer thanks for the ministry of Pastor Catherine. We praise you for the gifts that she shared with us and for the ways she led and served not just within our church family, but in all places where she served in ministry. We pray for Pastor Jonathan as he prepares to begin his ministry with our community. Continue to bless the ministry of Pastor Sam as he becomes a District Superintendent, and be with Pastor Carol as she begins her new appointment. Remind all of us that we are called to ministry and mission, and empower us to serve and lead as you have gifted each of us.

In trust and with hope we offer the concerns of our community to your care and provision. Receive those we list below and those that are held within our hearts.

We pray for ….

  • A little boy receiving treatment at St. Jude’s.
  • A sister unable to work due to struggles with mental illness.
  • A friend who is undergoing significant surgery this week.
  • Justice and peace in a friend’s life.
  • A friend who is healing from a deep wound and the emotional aftermath caused by a canine attack.
  • A friend whose niece is undergoing open heart surgery this week.
  • A member in the hospital suffering from two broken legs.
  • A member who will soon start rehabilitation for a knee injury.
  • Friends who are moving.
  • Friends in need of transplant surgery.
  • Loved ones suffering from cancer.
  • A friend who is getting their knee replaced.

We continue to pray for …

  • A sister in need of reconciliation and forgiveness.
  • A family who navigates the declining health of their beloved sister.
  • A friend who fractured their hip and is in the hospital.
  • A sister struggling with cancer and related illnesses.
  • Healing of body and spirit for those with long term illnesses.

We give thanks for ….

  • All the staff and volunteers who helped with Vacation Bible school, and each child who attended.

We share all these concerns trusting in Christ Jesus, our Lord, who taught us to pray, saying, Our Father….

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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Weekly Prayer 06/17/2026

Week of June 17, 2026

Rev. Amber Lloyd

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These days of summer have grown long, and we see the beauty of a bright sun in a blue sky late into the evening hours. We give thanks for birdsong, the scent of blooming flowers, and the gift of summer rain showers. Our home in East Tennessee is a beautiful representation of your glory, creativity, and wonder.

The stalwart Smoky Mountains sit on our horizon, so we cannot see the retreating glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland or the melting Arctic sea ice. Our state is not on the coast, so we don’t always notice the rising sea levels or the increasing temperature of our oceans. Our brothers and sisters in Chad, Bangladesh, and Madagascar bear the worst of the consequences of change in our climate. We see and read about their suffering, but in East Tennessee, we are far from their plight.

God, we confess that we have not always cared for your created world in the ways we ought to have done. Forgive us for over-consuming, exploiting, and ravaging the resources of our Earth. We repent of the greed that has made ours the wealthiest, most wasteful country on the planet. Help us to be mindful of the environment which we inhabit. When we hear birdsong, may we consider how we can protect those birds and their homes. When we admire the scent of blooming flowers, may we encourage their healthy proliferation and that of the bees that pollinate them. When a summer rain shower catches us by surprise, may we find ways to use less plastic and conserve energy in our homes.

You see us and know us. You have even numbered the hairs on our heads. But you have also clothed the lilies and you care for the sparrows. Knowing that your concern is for all of your creation, we boldly lift the petitions of these persons now:

We pray for ….

  • A sister in need of reconciliation and forgiveness.
  • A family who navigates the declining health of their beloved sister.
  • A friend who fractured their hip and is in the hospital.
  • A sister struggling with cancer and related illnesses.

We continue to pray for …

  • A sister who is looking for God’s guidance regarding her medical practice.
  • A brother who is seeking justice.
  • A friend’s parents who are struggling.
  • A friend’s marriage and spiritual guidance.
  • A friend’s healing of body and spirit.
  • A member who recently had a bad fall.

We give thanks for ….

  • All of God’s creation.
  • Increasing health and strength for those who are ill.

May our prayers be as fragrant incense and the lifting of our hands an evening sacrifice, O God. Together, we pray the words which your son taught us, saying

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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Weekly Prayer – 6/10/2026

Week of June 10, 2026

Rev. Sam Dzobo

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 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:3-6).

Gracious and loving God,

We come before you this day with hearts that are full. I thank you for the one year you have given me to serve at Church Street. The time has passed so quickly, like a river that does not wait. Yet even in this short season, you have woven together many friendships. You have joined my life with clergy colleagues, with the staff who labor so faithfully, and with the members of this church family. For each one of them, I give you thanks.

I thank you in a special way for the partnership in East Knoxville, for the ministry at Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church. Thank you for the volunteers who came with open hands to serve the homeless and to welcome those on the margins. Thank you for the whole of Church Street, who lifted up this work with their prayers and their gifts. You have taught us that when we serve the least, we are serving you.

Now, O Lord, I lift up this church into your care. I do not pray only that Church Street will grow in numbers. I pray that they will grow in loving you and in loving their neighbors. Let the light of Jesus always shine through them, so that the city may see and give glory to your holy name. Bless the families who make Church Street. Keep the children, strengthen the parents, and comfort the ones who are weary or alone.

And now, O God, I ask your blessing upon my clergy colleagues and their families, upon the staff, and upon the members of this church. I pray that you would continue to transform each one of them by the power of Jesus, day after day, until his likeness is formed in them. Hold them in your grace as they are in your faithful hands.

This I pray in the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We pray for ….

  • A sister who is looking for God’s guidance regarding her medical practice.
  • A brother who is seeking justice.
  • A friend’s parents who are struggling.
  • A friend’s marriage and spiritual guidance.
  • A friend’s healing of body and spirit.
  • The return of a neighbor’s beloved pets.

We continue to pray for …

  • Those who are grieving … may they feel the peace of God and the promise of Eternal Life.
  • A member’s neighbor who has been diagnosed with cancer.
  • A family mourning the recent loss of their daughter and for her boyfriend and his family.
  • A friend who is facing a serious surgery and the long recovery after.
  • Our military and their families.

We give thanks for ….

  • A member who received a wonderful report from CT scan!
  • The life and ministry of Rev. Catherine Nance.

Now, let us pray together the prayer Christ taught us, saying:

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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Weekly Prayer – 06/03/2026

Week of June 3, 2026

Rev. Catherine Nance

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Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love!

The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above!

 

O Sacred Tie that Binds us to You and to one another, we give you thanks for this gift of prayer. We are grateful that we are never alone and always have the ability to commune with you, O God. We feel a closeness to others who are reading this prayer … some we know and others we do not. But we are all one in the spirit, O Holy Spirit of God!

Those of us who claim the name Holston along with United Methodist, we thank you for a good meeting at Lake Junaluska with other United Methodists from East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Northern Georgia. It was such a joy to hear reports of ‘all the buckets’ that have been sent to Liberia! It was a joy to hear about Change for Children and Ripples of Miracles as churches brought offerings. We thank you, O God, for the way our churches are connected through mission and ministry and that we can do so much more together.

We thank you for the tireless witness and discipleship of our Bishop, Debra Wallace-Padgett. Thank you for her leadership in our church and her example of loving boldly and serving with integrity and grace. We offer prayers for all laity and clergy as they return to their churches that they would be filled with a sense of call and purpose. We pray for our District Superintendent, Ann Robins, as she continued to shepherd the churches of the Tennessee Valley District.

We give thanks for Church Street United Methodist Church and for the commitment of members who support the ministries here with prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. May we love each other well and support one another in the varying ways we learn, pray, and serve. Thank you for the different gifts you have given to us; may those gifts be used to your glory and not for our own gain.

Gracious God, who calls us to lift every voice and sing, we give you thanks for our Parish Youth Choir and all those who have traveled with them these last days. Thank you for the testimony they shared through anthems and for the holy fellowship they encountered. Blessings to all the adults who modeled Christian leadership while on tour.

As summer begins and people travel, we may not seen one another each Sunday! We thank you for your spirit that keeps us close to you and close to each other. May we find opportunities and places to worship while travel and may we find kindred spirits, hearts, and minds.

We pray for those in our church family and for others who have asked for prayer. May they feel a sense of your presence as we lift up these concerns together ….

We pray for ….

  • A sister who is having surgery in the morning.
  • A member’s neighbor who has been diagnosed with cancer. Praying that she feels God’s healing presence in a mighty way!
  • A member who is scheduled for an MRI next week.
  • A young adult experiencing grief and shock after the sudden death of his girlfriend. Prayers for her family. Prayers of thanksgiving mixed in with prayers for comfort as eight people are given new life through her donation of organs. Praise God who walks alongside all in their grief and their joy.
  • A member who has just completed her six rounds of chemo! Praying for a positive report from CT scan which is scheduled a week from today.
  • A friend who is facing a serious surgery and then a long, difficult recovery.

We continue to pray for …

  • Those who are grieving … may they feel the peace of God and the promise of Eternal Life.
  • A member who continues to adjust to life at nursing and rehabilitation facility while he receives physical therapy; prayers that he will gain strength and be able to go home soon.
  • Friends and family who are going through struggles.
  • A friend who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has started treatment. Prayers for peace, positivity, and healing.
  • A family preparing to move out of the country; may all go smoothly and may they feel welcomed in their new community.
  • A member who is in transition after a job loss; may he find direction for next steps and resolution for past circumstances.
  • Our military and their families.

We give thanks for ….

  • A wonderful Annual Conference!
  • Our Parish Youth Choir who returns from Choir Tour tonight!

We offer this in the name of 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.

 

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Weekly Prayer – 5/27/2026

Week of May 27, 2026

Rev. Tim Best

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Gracious God,

We give you thanks for the gifts of this day. We are thankful to come to the end of the day, carrying the burdens we have accumulated alongside the joys and blessings of today. Lift from our hearts all those things that weigh us down, and help us to see the hidden blessings that we have missed throughout the day.

We are mindful of the challenges of the world around us. We pray for harmony and unity within our community and in our nation. We pray for an end to the violence between our nation and Iran, just as we pray for the victims of violence within local communities across our country. We pray for the families of the victims of the shooting in San Diego. We pray for those whose loved ones are in faraway places and in harms way. Bring peace to places both near and far, and cure within our own hearts the bent to violence and hate we all carry.

We pray for those in any sort of suffering. Heal those who are sick, be present with the lonely, and grant a calm spirit to all those who are filled with worry and concern. Transform us, your church, into a community that is dedicated to making your love known through deed and word, here and everywhere. With trust in your love and mercy, receive these concerns from our Church street Family:

We pray for ….

  • A member who is dealing with infection after surgery. Thankful surgeon was able to remove infection. Praying that this young mother can heal well and get back to good health!
  • A family dealing with the death of their loved one from violence. Prayers for the clergyman who is ministering to them.
  • Families who observed Memorial Day remembering those who died while serving our country.

We continue to pray for …

  • Those who are grieving … may they feel the peace of God and the promise of Eternal Life.
  • Members who are going through the cycles of chemotherapy and radiation. May side effects be minimal and may the healing effects be strong!
  • Friends and family who are going through struggles.
  • For a mother in her late-eighties who is waiting on appointments with specialists to determine next steps for cancer treatment and answers for other health concerns.
  • A friend who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has started treatment. Prayers for peace, positivity, and healing.
  • A family preparing to move out of the country; may all go smoothly and may they feel welcomed in their new community.
  • A member who is in transition after a job loss; may he find direction for next steps and resolution for past circumstances.
  • Our military and their families.
  • A couple who just brought home twins! Praying for Big Sister, also!

We give thanks for ….

  • A grandfather who is recovering after having a seizure. Thankful he is able to ‘be himself!’
  • The blessing of a family selected for adoption.

We offer these concerns with a fervent trust in the one who taught us to pray, saying,

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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Weekly Prayer – 05/20/2026

Week of May 20, 2026

Rev. Amber Lloyd

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Eternal God,

We bless you and give you thanks for the successful conclusion of another school year. You have been so faithful to us in so many ways. When we were frustrated, you gave us extra measures of grace. When we were anxious or afraid, your Spirit comforted and guided us. The next several weeks bring transitions for many of us, but as we take our next steps, call to mind these formative moments. Help us to remember our roots.

God, you have given us the ability to remember, interpret, and learn from our history, but sometimes we are afraid of what we will discover if we turn back the pages too far. Confronting the truth of our past, though painful, offers us new opportunities to reconcile when we have caused division and to bring healing when we have caused harm. May we never shy away from the chance to bring to light what has been in darkness, both for our sakes and for the sake of others.

This Sunday, we remember the roots of your church. We will gather to celebrate that awesome day when your Spirit poured out on those gathered in Jerusalem, when your sons and daughters prophesied, and the differing languages and backgrounds of those gathered were no longer a barrier to fellowship. You showed us then that salvation is for everyone, that the Holy Spirit is a gift for all who desire to know and love you. Help us to remember our roots, Lord, and throw wide the welcome in our communities of faith.

We ask that your Holy Spirit comfort those of us in need today…

We pray for ….

  • A member who transferred from hospital to rehab this weekend. Prayers as he learns exercises to help with arthritis issues.
  • A friend who was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has started treatment. Prayers for peace, positivity, and healing.
  • Those who are grieving … may they feel the peace of God and the promise of Eternal Life.
  • Members who are going through the cycles of chemotherapy and radiation. May side effects be minimal and may the healing effects be strong!
  • Friends and family who are going through struggles.
  • For a mother in her late-eighties who is waiting on appointments with specialists to determine next steps for cancer treatment and answers for other health concerns.
  • A friend who had a seizure but is recovering; prayers for continued good health.

We continue to pray for …

  • A family preparing to move out of the country; may all go smoothly and may they feel welcomed in their new community.
  • A member who is in transition after a job loss; may he find direction for next steps and resolution for past circumstances.
  • Our military and their families.
  • A couple who just brought home twins! Praying for Big Sister, also!

We give thanks for ….

  • The blessing of a family selected for adoption.
  • A sister’s wedding this weekend!

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world. We pray now with the confidence of children of God,

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.
Amen.

 

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Senior Spotlight: Kate Johnson

One of our favorite things about the spring semester each year is celebrating our graduating seniors. Welcome to the Senior Spotlight series for the graduating class of 2026! 

 

Meet Kate Johnson!

 

What high school are you graduating from?

Karns High School

What are your plans for next year?

ETSU, pre-dental

What is your favorite bible verse?

Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

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

Mac and cheese

If you could give some advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Life is hard. Keep on smiling, even if you lose a few teeth.

What are your top 3 favorite movies?

WALL-E, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Smile.

What is your top book recommendation?

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

What is your favorite Church Street memory?

SLA 2019

What are you most excited about going into the next season of your life?

Being an ETSU majorette

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Weekly Prayer – 5/13/2026

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Senior Spotlight: Sarah Cheatham

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One of our favorite things about the spring semester each year is celebrating our graduating seniors. Welcome to the Senior Spotlight series for the graduating class of 2026! 

 

Meet Sarah Cheatham!

 

What high school are you graduating from?

L&N STEM Academy

What are your plans for next year?

I am attending the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and am pre-medicine! I am majoring in Biochemistry with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Biology and pursuing a minor in Neuroscience.

What is your favorite bible verse?

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

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

If I were to eat one meal for the rest of my life, it would have to be some sort of pasta dish. I love Cheese Ziti, Fettuccini Alfredo, Chicken Parmesan, Cajun pastas, and anything with pesto.

If you could give some advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Drink more water, get bangs and face framing layers, and put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid of other people, you either won’t remember or won’t care about 95% of your embarrassing moments anyway.

What are your top 3 favorite movies?

Some of my favorite movies are “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar” ,“The Grand Budapest Hotel”, and “Everything Everywhere All at Once”.

What is your top book recommendation?

The 100 Years of Lenni and Margot, by Marianne Cronin

What is your favorite Church Street memory?

My favorite memory has been a culmination of the past couple of months. My family and I are incredibly grateful for all of the delicious meals and kind cards/flowers we have received from the Church Street congregation. It has made us feel connected in a time that feels dark and lonely.

What are you most excited about going into the next season of your life?

I’m mainly excited for the classes I’ll be taking in college, specifically Comparative Invertebrate Biology, Microbial Pathogenesis, Immunology and Virology, and Cancer Biology.

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