Rev. Catherine Nance
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
We thank you, O Lord, for the redeeming work you do in our lives. Forgive us when we think of redemption as a one-time event in the future! You bring meaning, restoration, and grace to our lives each day – redeeming our attempts at making each day ‘count.’
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
We thank you, O Lord, for the redeeming work you do in the world. Open our eyes that we may see it instead of focusing on negativity. May we praise your name with the words of our mouth! When we see goodness, reconciliation, and hopefulness around us, may our speech pour forth your praise!
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
We thank you for encouraging words we have heard from family, friends, and colleagues. Open our hearts and our minds before we open our mouths, O God who is The Word! May our words not only be pleasing to you but helpful and edifying to others.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
O God who knows our hearts, you know that some of us have mastered ‘kind language’ but what is dwelling in our heart and mind is not kind. Forgive us when we think politeness can cover up disdain and judgment. Clean out our hearts, Lord! There is much in there. Thank you for accepting all of who we are, but thank you for your willingness to work through and transform the darkness, the guilt, the shame, and the confusion. Redeem what is in our hearts, O lover of our souls!
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Help us imagine ourselves abiding in your holy tent and lingering on your holy mountain! Even when we are alone with our thoughts and words – well, we are not alone. Redeem us!
O God, we thank you so much for always hearing our prayers.
We pray for …
- a church member dealing with heart issues; praying to get meds regulated and get strength back
- a church member waiting on a heart procedure; give her strength and hope for each day
- a young mother who has been on life support and whose organs were harvested this morning. Praying for all of the family members; her husband and two children (ages 4 and 7). Thankful for supportive in-laws, extended family, and friends who are there for this family even in their own grief.
- a young woman who had sinus surgery this morning; prayers that pain and headaches will be relieved
- a woman who seeks God’s intervention to restore a broken relationship
- a husband’s CT scan to be clear; prayers for God’s healing presence
- a church member who came home from hospital today will be recuperating for six weeks; prayers for parents who care for her
- a mother driving to middle Tennessee this week to see an incarcerated son
- a member in the hospital discerning care he needs at home
- a friend diagnosed with leukemia
- friends and family members going through difficult times and need to feel God’s presence
- a church member dealing with cancer diagnosis
- a family who is keeping vigil at the bedside of a dear father and uncle; prayers of thanksgiving for a long life well lived and loved!
We give thanks for …
- a spiritually uplifting weekend for our youth and counselors at Resurrection 2023
- birth of a great-granddaughter
- a successful surgery
- Stephen Ministers and those who are interested in learning more
We continue to pray for …
- the devastation in Ukraine to end
- those who are plagued with addiction disease and pray for more options for treatment
- church members and friends who are home after hospital and/or rehab stays; prayers that they will continue to heal and grow stronger
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
Weekly Prayer – February 22, 2023
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of February 22, 2023
Rev. Catherine Nance
As we bow in prayer together tonight, O God, we cannot help but call you Scooper of Dust. That doesn’t quite sound so holy, but yet, that is how you are described in one of our Sacred Stories. You are the Creator, the Scooper of Dust! You scooped up dust in your hands and then breathed into it and here we are. Your people. Your creation. From dust we came, to dust we shall return.
On this Ash Wednesday, some of us are more aware than others of the dust to which we will return. Some have tired bodies, sick bodies, broken bodies, and death does not elicit fear but peace of mind. Others believe they will live forever or, at least, death is a long way off. No need to be concerned about that! It seems odd to be reminded of death in the middle of week, but here we are on Ash Wednesday. Perhaps we heard from a minister today, “from dust you came, to dust you shall return.” A black smudge on our forehead to show the world we are aware of mortality. But also, aware of forgiveness. Aware of reconciliation. We know about the death of Jesus who brings us life.
O Scooper of Dust, only one who loves the earth and the gardens would scoop dust. Someone not as careful and thoughtful would claw or grab at dust. You scoop us up so many times.
As we prepare for a restful evening, prepare our hearts for the second Day of Lent. We will have rubbed off the smudge by morning, but may we always be marked by your love and grace and scooping. Whatever discipline we have made a point to observe this Lent, may it remind us that we are yours, we came from you and we will return to you. And in the meantime, we are with you.
In that confidence and contentment, we offer prayers for our church friends and family ….
We pray for…
We continue to pray for…
We continue to pray for…
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
Depending on the Divine
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023 — Evening
By Rev. Tim Best, Senior Associate Pastor
Depending on the Divine
Read Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Lent has always been a time for me to reflect upon my great need for God. I admit this has largely been a philosophical or emotional exercise. Don’t get me wrong, the “need” I have felt has been real, but has always seemed like a need that not everyone had to know about. I liked that. I like being able to honestly tell folks “I need and depend upon God” without having to tell them how exactly. I am more private than I often let on; I share all sorts of things, all types of facts about my life. But it is hard for me to share my needs or fears.
In recent months I have had obvious and public needs. I have been unable to drive and have had other limitations due to a vision condition that, at least as I write this, persists. Our lectionary readings for Ash Wednesday all contain this theme of need for God. Much of the emphasis is on need for repentance and renewal, but we can understand the call to be an invitation to recognize our dependance upon God. As we begin this Lenten season may we all honestly evaluate our needs and open ourselves to how God is seeking to care for us.
Prayer
Lord, may you renew us this lent that we may always know our need for you and trust in your grace. Amen
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
Featured, lentDaily Lent Devotions from Church Street UMC
Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023 — Morning
By Donald Rickels
Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
Ash Wednesday is a time to begin reflection on life. It is almost like a New year. What would you like to get rid of this season of Lent? Guilt? Sorrow? Regrets? A burden? This wonderful service is a time of reflection to think about things and release them. It truly is an important time for all who are followers of Christ to begin their Easter journey.
Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite services. A mark on the forehead seals you to the fact that you have reflected and chosen a path to release the things that so easily consume us and take us away from being a Light to the world. Begin your Easter journey in reflection and with confidence that there can be change in your world.
Prayer
Be with us through this season, Lord, and all our earthly days, that when the final Easter dawns, we join in heaven’s praise. Amen.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
Weekly Prayer – February 15, 2023
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of February 15, 2023
Rev. Catherine Nance
Today’s lectionary reading from the Psalms is from Psalm 119:10 -16 …
119 10 With my whole heart I seek you;
do not let me stray from your commandments.
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
so that I may not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
14 I delight in the way of your decrees
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
O Lord who hears our every heartbeat, you know that we come to you longing for a pure heart. But the Psalmist promises you the WHOLE heart. You know our hearts, O God, and you see how we have divided them in sections. There is only a portion for you. We love you with the part of our heart that adores creation and loves our family. We love you with the part of our heart that experiences joy.
You know our hearts, O Lord … and yet, you welcome us into your sanctuary of prayer. We humbly bring our broken hearts, our bitter hearts, our tired hearts, our apathetic hearts; we bring them all. The heartache, the heartbreak, and the heartsick.
So, we pray again with the Psalmist: we seek you with our whole heart! May our hearts be a place where we treasure your word and make room for your spirit. May we trust in our hearts that you know the brokenness we have stored there and are anxious to heal and to make new.
Having spent time meditating on your love for us and your openness to us, we can truly say now that our whole hearts are before you. We bring you the joy and the hope, the thanksgiving and the concerns, the regret and the looking ahead. Thank you for seeking after us with YOUR whole heart, O Lover of Our Souls.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray …
We pray for…
We give thanks for…
We continue to pray for…
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
Weekly Prayer – February 8, 2023
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of February 8, 2023
Rev. Catherine Nance
Over eleven thousand dead …
We close our eyes to pray about the world but we cannot even fathom eleven-thousand people.
But you know, O Lord; you know each one. Thankful for your tenderheartedness, we look at the map, find Syria and Turkey, touch the outline of the borders and pray. Praying reminds us you are the creator of all.
We pray for rescue workers, for children who are now orphans, for parents looking for children. We pray for those who are in charge of clearing the debris, for the agencies trying to get relief to the people. We pray for those who are thirsty to find water. For those who are inconsolable to find some rest. For those who are in shock to find something to hold on to.
We hold on to the miracle stories … a baby born under the rubble and taken to medical personnel … a teenage boy slowly pulled out from between two slabs of concrete … the sound of a voice after hours of drilling through debris. There is life! There is hope! There is light!
These miracles do not diminish the devastation but they offer hope. A baby’s cry calls up compassion from people around the world. The determination of a few rescue workers crouched for hours inspires us to persevere.
Over eleven-thousand dead and the count will go higher. We cannot begin to count that many people, O Lord. But, we can count one. Then two. Then one more.
Help us to see the people in our own community, O God. There are many who feel like they are being buried by social earthquakes. Safety nets and agencies that once offered help are crumbling. Transgender teens, adults with HIV, neighbors with addictions … may we see them and hear them calling out for help. Help us take the time to see one. Then one more. Then two. Our children. Our nephews and nieces. Our neighbors. Your children.
We thank you that you have created us in such a way that we hurt when others hurt; that we can imagine what it is like to be someone else. You have made us in your image, O God. A disaster on the other side of the world can shake us loose from our fears and prejudices and prompt us truly to pray for one another. We pray for those who feel trapped and for those who feel forgotten – here, there, and everywhere. May we crouch down in prayer; may we persevere in prayer. Perhaps, being empowered by prayer we can offer hope, light, life!
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for…
We continue to pray for…
We offer prayers of Thanksgiving for…
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
February Update
YouthSunday Schedule:
Worship – 8:30AM & 11:00AM
Sunday school – 9:45-10:45AM
NightLife – 5:00-7:00PM ($5 dinner)
Lent at Church Street
NightLife – During Lent, we are meditating on the senses and using them to draw us back to our faith on a daily basis. One of Church Street’s clergy will join us each week to share how
Palm Sunday – April 2 (Youth Lenten Worship Night during NightLife)
Maundy Thursday – April 6
Good Friday – April 7
Easter – April 9
Senior Info
It’s hard to believe it is already time to be looking toward graduation for our graduating seniors! What a joy it is to see you learn and grow. You should have already received this email via mail & email, but reminders that deadlines are coming up! Mark your calendars and be sure to submit your information. Let Jenny know if you have any questions!
Sunday, March 24 – Senior Info Due
Sunday, April 2 – Scholarship Application Due
Tuesday, May 2 – Senior Banquet
Sunday, May 14 – Senior Sunday
Senior Info
Scholarship Application
High School Prayer Breakfast
This year, we are rotating locations of our High School Prayer Breakfast. Hopefully, this will allow more students to participate! Here is this month’s schedule:
Parent Sign-Ups
Meal Sign-Ups: Each Sunday, we serve our students breakfast and lunch. We ask families to volunteer to help make these meals happen! The sign-ups are below. If every family signs up for one breakfast and one dinner each, we will have nearly every week covered!
Breakfast Sign-Up
Dinner Sign-Up
Have you viewed our page on Church Street’s website? Check it out!
Jenny Cross, Youth Director
jcross@churchstreetumc.org
(865) 524-0287
Weekly Prayer – February 1, 2023
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of February 1, 2023
Rev. Catherine Nance
There are only twenty-eight days this month! The cold air gives us a tiny bit of panic as we draw our arms in and shield ourselves against any wind. As we come to the end of this first day of the second month, may we put our anxiety in your hands. Instead of drawing in, may we open up. Would having a February 30th or 31st really make a difference in our lives? As we come to the close of the day, O Lord, forgive us for feeling harried or spent or depleted. You have given us the time of this day. You have called each day, “good.” Lord who loves us as much mid-week as you did on Sunday, make us to feel your grace this evening.
You are our Keeper, not our scorekeeper. Help us to look back over our day and see it through your eyes. May we see the gifts of food, of work, or interactions with others. We thank you for the gift of our ability to do the things we wanted to do or the gift of someone to help us get those things done. Lord, forgive us when we come to the end of the day and evaluate its worth by what we have ‘gotten done.’
We have been in your presence. You have been with us this day. Knowing your presence brings us meaning and now we can rest as the world grows dark. Forgive us for thinking that today’s worth was dependent on us. This is the day, you made, O Lord. Let us look back on it and give thanks.
Now that we have taken a deep breath and renewed our spirits in your presence, we are able to think of others. Even when thinking about illness, despair, economic strain, addiction, and other situations that weigh us down, taking time to pray brings us a strength. As we let your Holy Spirit wander around in our hearts and minds, we know that same spirit is moving in the folks for whom we are praying. Your same spirit is touching those who are praying and those who have shared concerns.
And so we join as a community of faith and pray for others ….
We pray for …
We give thanks for …
We continue to pray for …
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
Weekly Prayer – January 25, 2023
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of January 25, 2023
Rev. Catherine Nance
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
We thank you, O Lord, for the redeeming work you do in our lives. Forgive us when we think of redemption as a one-time event in the future! You bring meaning, restoration, and grace to our lives each day – redeeming our attempts at making each day ‘count.’
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
We thank you, O Lord, for the redeeming work you do in the world. Open our eyes that we may see it instead of focusing on negativity. May we praise your name with the words of our mouth! When we see goodness, reconciliation, and hopefulness around us, may our speech pour forth your praise!
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
We thank you for encouraging words we have heard from family, friends, and colleagues. Open our hearts and our minds before we open our mouths, O God who is The Word! May our words not only be pleasing to you but helpful and edifying to others.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
O God who knows our hearts, you know that some of us have mastered ‘kind language’ but what is dwelling in our heart and mind is not kind. Forgive us when we think politeness can cover up disdain and judgment. Clean out our hearts, Lord! There is much in there. Thank you for accepting all of who we are, but thank you for your willingness to work through and transform the darkness, the guilt, the shame, and the confusion. Redeem what is in our hearts, O lover of our souls!
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Help us imagine ourselves abiding in your holy tent and lingering on your holy mountain! Even when we are alone with our thoughts and words – well, we are not alone. Redeem us!
O God, we thank you so much for always hearing our prayers.
We pray for …
We give thanks for …
We continue to pray for …
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
Weekly Prayer – January 18, 2023
Featured, prayer for todayWeekly Prayers for the Church Street Family
Week of January 18, 2023
Rev. Catherine Nance*
Today is January 18, 2023 and marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This past Monday, I was honored to participate at Overcoming Believers Church in the Martin Luther King Commemorative Service. There were people from many different churches in the congregation and on the stage. I began today by having coffee with two colleagues – each from a different denomination. Then, I went to the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and joined with clergy from Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches as we shared in leading the Service for Christian Unity with their students. It reminded me of our deep heritage and that we are all, indeed, one in Christ Jesus.
I invite you to share the prayer that is in our hymnal for Christian Unity this evening ….
Let us ask the Lord to strengthen in all Christians fiath in Christ, the Savior of the world.
Listen ro us, O Lord.
Let us ask the Lord to sustain and guide Christians with his gifts along the way to full unity.
Listen to us, O Lord.
Let us ask the Lord for the gift ofv unity and peace for the world.
Listen to us, O lord.
We ask you, O lord, for the gifts of your Spirit.
Enable us to penetrate the depth of the whole truth, and grant that we may share with others the goods you have put at our disposal. Teach us to overcome division. Send us your Spirit to lead to full unity your sons and daughters in full charity, in obedience to your will; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We pray for …
We offer prayers of thanksgiving for …
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Have a Prayer Request?
Submit your prayer request confidentially by clicking here.
*Prayer was written by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II), Poland, 20th century.
REZ23
YouthFriends!
I am so excited to spend next weekend together at Resurrection!! This email contains everything you need to know to prepare for this event. If you have any questions at all, please let me know.
Grace and peace,
Jenny
*Please note, the schedule for this event is different from past Resurrections and will require an earlier departure on Friday night and an earlier return on Sunday.
Preparing our Hearts
The focus verse for this year’s Resurrection is Ephesians 4:4-6 — “You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.”
As we do the work of packing and planning, let us also spend time reflecting and meditating on these words. Let us arrive at our sessions eager to learn more about God and His love!
Schedule
To learn more about the Resurrection event schedule, please click here. The event has moved to one session instead of two. The schedule below includes travel on Friday & Sunday.
Friday
5:00 Arrive at Church Street in the Youth Department (Chick-fil-a dinner is provided)
5:30 Meeting with students & Dinner
6:00 Depart for Pigeon Forge
8:00 Session I
Sunday
8:30 Session IV
11:00 Depart from Pigeon Forge (snacks on the road, will not eat lunch)
12:00-12:30 Arrive at Church Street
Packing List
Packing List PDF
Friday Arrival
When you arrive at Church Street on Friday, please do the following things:
Lodging
We are going to the King of the Mountain Lodge! Your rooms have been assigned in advance. We will share all our meals in the cabin and will all help out in the kitchen.
Expectations
We will talk about these more on Friday, but please keep these guidelines in mind for the weekend.