Diane Craver has died. She was a friend of this church and a dear friend to Roger Young. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, Funeral Home & Cremation Center. May God’s presence bring comfort to Roger and all of Diane’s family and friends.
Becky Adames
Please keep Becky & Angel Adames in your prayers. Becky's mother, Beverly Brown, died Friday in Columbus, Ohio. A memorial service is being planned for Aug. 5 at Northwest Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Upper Arlington, Ohio. May God's presence bring comfort and peace to this family, along with all who watch or weep or mourn this day.
Update on the Rumburg family
The funeral service for Al Rumburg will be on Saturday afternoon, with visitation on Friday night. Thank you for your prayers for the family. We may not be able to express our support and friendship by being physically present at the services, but our prayers connect us with those who grieve in the Spirit of comfort.
The Rumburg family
Greg Rumburg's father, Al, died on Monday. We entrust him and all who love him to God's unending care. Greg and April are grateful that they were able to travel to Wooster on Sunday to be with the family. We don't know the funeral plans yet or when Greg and April will return to Nashville; thank you for remembering them and the family in your prayers.
Anne Blackwell
Pat Cole asks for our prayers. Anne Blackwell, Pat’s mother, is in the hospital this weekend with gallstones. We are hopeful things will be resolved in the next couple days and Anne will go back to her residence soon.
Prayers for a homeless friend
DJ asks that we pray for a mentally ill friend who is homeless; he wants her to be safe. "She suffers from paranoia and delusions and is on the street on her own." Thank you for remembering her and the many in our city and beyond who do not receive appropriate care for their mental health needs.
Charlie Biter
Charlie Biter asks for our prayers. He will be receiving additional cancer scans soon in Texas. We hope for encouraging test results and a reasonable treatment plan to enable him to feel like himself for a long time to come.
Joys & Concerns
Mission Trip to Memphis is underway! As they share in ministry this week, please keep youth group members and their counselors in your prayers, including Sarah, Elijah, Molly, Dominic, Emily, Eva and Hope. (And what's with the jar in the photo? That's the Judgy Jar, a means by which mission trip participants are fined for judging others.)
We're grateful to God for another great week of m&m camp! The experience culminated Sunday, June 25, with the children's musical, In the Image. Thank you, campers, counselors and directors!
Finally, please keep Hildred Martin and her family in your prayers. Hildred's brother died last week in Kentucky.
Walter Seifert
We’ve learned Walter Seifert was hospitalized recently. We’re grateful he is home and recovering well. Please keep Walter and Dean in your prayers.
A Sunday Update
Congratulations to Bob & Jane Goidel, who are celebrating 50 years of marriage!
Jack and Durham are experiencing Discovery Camp this week at Bethany Hills. Molly and Sarah returned from Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) Camp Saturday.
Virginia Grimm and Toni Foglesong were in the hospital last week; both are home again.
We hold in prayer members of the Nashville Iraqi community. We pray for justice in their lives—that leaders and protectors will truly be keepers of peace; where justice does not prevail, we pray God will be a balm and a stronghold for those who have been detained and for their families. May God keep all those who are under threat safe.
Al Rumburg
Greg Rumburg's father, Al, is very ill; he has late-stage colon cancer. Greg and April will travel to Ohio this weekend where the family is gathering to celebrate Father's Day early. Al will undergo additional testing next week, but the treatment options are very limited. Please hold this family in your prayers as they gather to celebrate life and make difficult decisions together.
Beverly Easterling Caldwell
Beverly Easterling Caldwell, daughter of Diane Easterling, is hospitalized to treat extreme side effects following recent chemo therapy and a stem cell transplant. Thank you for keeping Beverly and Diane in your prayers as you join them in hoping for healing and wholeness.
Mary Ann Johnson
Mary Ann Johnson fell on Tuesday and fractured her pelvis and elbow. We are thankful that she won't need surgery. She is hospitalized and awaiting transfer to a rehab facility. Thank you for keeping Mary Ann in your prayers in the days and weeks ahead.
Marie Heath
Marie Heath, Allison Hutton’s mom, fell Friday evening, breaking a tibia. She is in the hospital, recovering from surgery she had Saturday morning. Please keep Marie and her family in your prayers, especially hoping for comfort and healing.
Update: Dr. Bell
According to the Christian Church in Kentucky, funeral arrangements for Dr. Wayne Bell are as follows:
Sunday, April 23, 2017 4:30 p.m.
Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
205 East Short Street
Lexington, KY 40507
Dr. Bell is a former senior minister of Vine Street.
Rev. Dr. Wayne Bell
We’ve learned the Rev. Dr. Wayne Bell died overnight. Arrangements are pending.
Dr. Bell served as the senior minister of Vine Street Christian Church from 1960-1974. His ministry guided the congregation through the difficult civil rights issues of the times, further shaping Vine Street’s commitment to justice and equality matters—a legacy that continues today. Dr. Bell also established our continuing ministerial intern program, which has nurtured many students who have gone on to serve in church- and nonprofit-related roles.
Dr. Bell served as the president of Lexington Theological Seminary (Kentucky) from 1974-1986.
Vine Street’s Wayne H. Bell Lectureship on Ministry, established in 1992, honors the enduring influence of Dr. Bell's contributions to all forms of Christian ministry.
Wayne and his wife Virginia have remained dear friends of this congregation.
Please hold Virginia, the Bell family, and all who love Dr. Bell in your prayers.
Palm Sunday Prayers...
On this Palm Sunday, we offer prayer for God’s people and for the world. Especially:
We offer prayers for Rachel Dixon’s brother Bobby Register. He will be having surgery Monday.
We offer prayers, too, for Joanne Jewett. She fell this week and broke a wrist. Joanne will be recovering for several weeks.
Finally, you may have heard the news—Coptic Christians in Egypt celebrating Palm Sunday today were victims of two separate church bombings. So far we know many people have been killed. More are injured. We pray for God’s comforting presence in the lives of all those affected, and we pray for all people in the world who are threatened or marginalized because of their faith tradition.
Lord, hear our prayers….
Weekend Chi Rho Retreat
The Chi Rho retreat for 6th, 7th and 8th graders begins Friday, March 31 at Bethany Hills. The campers include Duke and Elijah from Vine Street. Rev. Hope Hodnett is serving as a counselor. May all campers and counselors know God's presence and love in deeper ways this weekend. Thank you for all the ways you support this life-changing ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tennessee.
Roger Young
Please keep Roger Young in your prayers. We've learned he had a fall this week. Roger has received treatment, and we're grateful he's back home now.
Thema Vietti and Jonathan Moreland
Jonathan Moreland and Thema Vietti shared recently they are moving to Boston! Jonathan has a new job with a startup company there. Both are excited to return to the New England region. We ask for God’s blessings on these friends, along with traveling mercies, and we give thanks to God for all the ways Thema and Jonathan have contributed to God’s work in the world with Vine Street! We will have an opportunity to wish them well as part of Sunday's 10 a.m. worship service.