For most of the past few months, I have been mostly ok.  Doesn’t that seem strange?  The world has felt like it was crumbling most days, and I have been ok.  That’s not to say I haven’t felt sad from time to time or had my heartbroken by the news. Or that everyday feels like a joyful adventure.  I’ve found myself feeling square in the middle most of the time.  If you asked me “How are you?” I would probably respond, “I’ve been better, I’ve been worse.” The middle. No man’s land.

But last night, I had to go to Church Street to do some brief preparation for our online Kick-Off Sunday night.  (P.S. Do you have it on your calendar?! See you on Zoom at 6:00!) I walked into our worship room and it hit.  The last time I was in that room on a Wednesday night was in March. MARCH. And we still have a long road to walk before we can safely join back together.  I was so surprised by the ache that I felt.  Because in the grand scheme of all that is happening in our lives and the world, walking into an empty room isn’t such a big deal.  But it was the step that woke me up a little bit inside. That reminded me that there is more going on under the surface of my soul than I realized.

So, what is our theme for today? Make room for grief.

What are the things that feel heavy in your heart?  Name them. No matter how big or small.

Are you sad about a virus that continues to spread, even though you’ve had to give up so much to it already?  Are you aching about the racial injustice we are seeing nationwide? Are you fearful about being back in school?  Are you disappointed because you are learning at home? Have you lost a loved one and not been able to honor their life the way you’d like? Has it been far too long since you’ve seen friends or family who live out of town?  Have things that bring you joy (graduations, performances, recitals, sporting events, family traditions, etc.) been put on hold? Does your faith feel like it’s slipping through the cracks without the rhythms of worship and youth group to keep you going? Are you frightened by violence and anger? Are you sad, but you aren’t even sure why?

Name it.  And hand it to our friend, Jesus.

In the Old Testament, there is a book called Lamentations.  And you probably guessed this by its title, but it is a book of lament, of sorrow, of heartbreak.  The author is writing it retroactively – so he is reflecting on what has already happened.  And he writes a series of poems telling the horrendous story of Israel’s fall to the Babylonians and the exile that followed. The entire book is one of pain, except for three short verses, found in the middle of the third chapter.  You’ve probably heard them before.  Lamentations 3:22-24 reads:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”

These are the only words of hope in the whole book.  But the truth there is enough, even when we’re walking in darkness. This passage has inspired one of the most beloved hymns of all time, and it is our resource for today.  Great is Thy Faithfulness is a powerful song that praises God for His provision in the midst of our weakness and our grief.  One of my favorite lines says, “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”  That single line has been a stone of remembrance to me during the past few months.  When things feel hard and heavy, I’ve thought, “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,” and it has helped to carry me through.

Below, I’ve included one of my favorite recordings of this hymn.  It is sung by singer/songwriter Sandra McCracken who also wrote one of our youth group favorites, In Feast or Fallow.  Her take on this well-known hymn is simple and beautiful, and accompanied me on my drive home last night, reminding me that our Hope is in Jesus.  Yes and amen.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Wherever you are on the spectrum of joy and sorrow, I hope you’ll make room for your grief.  Let’s name the hard things and then turn them over to the One who can carry it all.  If you ever need to talk, just say the word. I’m all ears.

Grace and peace,

Jenny

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

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

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.

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.