Sondra and Ted Lee ask for our prayers on behalf of their son, Michael. He will have a stem cell transplant Christmas Day as he continues to be treated for leukemia.
Charlie Biter
Charlie Biter has been dealing with cancer treatments this year. He shares he received this week a very positive pathology report! We give thanks to God for all the ways Charlie and his family knows healing in their lives!
We Pray to the Lord...
We hold in our prayers the family of Eric, Allison and Sarah Hutton. Allison’s mom, Marie Heath, broke her elbow from a fall at her home this week. Eric’s mom, Karen Hutton, is recovering from hip replacement surgery following a fall.
We’re grateful some of our young adults have been able to reunite and get away for the weekend at Christmount in North Carolina. As they return home today, we hope for traveling mercies for: Kevin Clark, Rico Carls, Alex Cauthen, Alex Chumbley, Clare Crenshaw, Elizabeth Crenshaw, Kara Reed, Kalie Rhodes, Savvy Lyle, Ellen Matthews, Johanna Keith and Elena Nourabadi.
And finally, the pomp and circumstance has concluded: Thomas Kleinert received his doctor of ministry Saturday during a graduation ceremony at Lipscomb University!
Sunday Prayers
In worship this first Sunday morning of Advent, we offered our prayers, remembering Donna and Vaughn Woods, who ask we pray for Miriam Woods, Vaughn's younger sister. Miriam became very ill Tuesday and had emergency surgery this week.
Please be mindful the visitation for Leigh Ann Zirkle's mom, Sue Ann Peffen, will be today and the service will be tomorrow. Details are here.
We are are grateful Linda Parker, a friend and former minister of this church, received good news. She has been dealing with cancer, yet last week the results of a recent PET scan reveal she is now cancer free. We rejoice with Linda, Kennedy, Grant and all who love Linda.
Charlie Biter's surgery went well, Camille Biter reports, and we look forward their return this week to Nashville. Also returning this week are our friends who are traveling in Germany discovering Luther and the joys of Advent.
Finally, we give thanks to God for our bookkeeper Linda Bussey, who retired last week. We wish her all the best as she begins a new chapter in her life.
Prayer is a formative part of our ministry at Vine Street. Please remember we are offering three opportunities to pray per week for our church, Nashville and our world, starting Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. Click here to learn the full schedule.
Grace & peace to us all this Lord's day....
Update: Leigh Ann Zirkle
We learned this morning Leigh Ann Zirkle's mom, Sue Ann, died overnight here in Nashville. We join Leigh Ann and Don in giving thanks to God for Sue Ann's life. And may God bring comfort to all who grieve this death. To read the obituary and learn funeral arrangements, please click here.
Leigh Ann Zirkle
Leigh Ann Zirkle asks for our prayers as her mom, Sue Ann, who appears to be approaching the end of her life. We're grateful Sue Ann is receiving good medical care and family members are nearby. May God be with this family and with all who watch or weep or mourn this day.
In Our Prayers...
During worship yesterday morning, we offered prayers for safe travels for our Vine Street friends who are visiting Germany to mark the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation and the start of Advent: Thomas Kleinert, Debra Cannon, Joyce Crowell, Eva Evans, Gary & Deb Holloway, and Bryce & Rachel Dixon.
We also holding Camille and Charlie Biter in prayer. They will be traveling to Houston where Charlie will have surgery.
Finally, we remembered the men, women and children who were killed, injured or affected when a mosque was attacked during worship on Friday in Egypt. May houses of worship be again sanctuaries for prayer.
Alex Brandau
Alex and his family are mourning the death of his brother, Lanier S. "Buddy" Brandau, who died on November 20, 2017 at age 78. The funeral will be in Knoxville on Friday, November 24th. We pray for Alex and all who love Buddy, that gratitude for the gift of his life will ease the pain of loss. Click here to read the obituary.
Welcome, Theodore!
Please meet Theodore Wallace Saupe, the new grandson of Jack Wallace and Joanne Jewett! He was born Tuesday to proud parents Jessica Wallace and Tyler Saupe. Congratulations to this family! Welcome to our world, Theodore!
Freida Coleman
We’ve learned Freida Coleman died this week in east Tennessee. The Colemans are former members and longtime friends of Vine Street. We give thanks to God for Freida’s life and pray God’s presence will be especially close to her family and friends.
Congratulations, Thomas!
Thomas Kleinert shared a few minutes ago, "I had my project defense this morning and the committee chair's closing words were, 'Congratulations, Dr. Kleinert!'" For the successful completion of his doctor of ministry program, we celebrate with Thomas and his family!
Greg Wilson
Angie Wilson asks for prayers for her husband, Greg Wilson. He will be having knee replacement surgery this week.
All Saints' Sunday
Please keep in your prayers this week our Room in the Inn guests and all our volunteers.
Jan Volk will have a procedure to improve her health this week. She asks for our prayers.
The Regional Chi Rho fall retreat is wrapping up today. We’re grateful Ellen, Lise, Alex, Meadow, Elijah Wilson, Duke and Hope attended.
And on this All Saints’ Sunday, we offer prayers for Vine Street Christian Church members who died during the past year, including Norman Hall, Elizabeth Lawrence, Roy DeHart, Leyla Harding and Rev. Wayne Bell.
Angie Washington
Angie Washington asks for prayers of healing for her mother, Kay; her neighbor, Gaila; for two friends facing difficult situations; and for herself. Hear our prayers, O Lord....
Shelbyville and Murfreesboro
Rev. Kyle Harris, interim pastor at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Shelbyville, asks that we join First Christian in praying for peaceful demonstrations and peace-filled relationships this weekend. Rev. Harris’ request comes as Shelbyville and Murfreesboro brace for white supremacist rallies this weekend—events that have been on the mind of our Thomas Kleinert, who shared related insights on his blog this week.
Saturday Prayers
Our prayers of support go out to Buddy Barnes and his family. Sam Mosier, the husband of Martha Mosier, Buddy’s sister, died Wednesday in Chattanooga after a long illness. The funeral is set for Sunday, Oct. 22 in Chattanooga. The obituary is posted here.
We offer, too, prayers for traveling mercies on behalf of our Fellowship of Twelve. Many of them are in Kentucky this weekend visiting Cane Ridge, a key historical site of our denominational tradition. Fellowship members include Alice Cannon, Joyce Crowell, Melanie Gao, Jackie Halstead, Erica Hayden, Johanna Keith, Bob Lyons, Malinda Moseley, Kennedy Shuler, Helen Trabue, Kara Reed and Thomas Kleinert.
David Tarpley
David Tarpley had hip replacement surgery Friday. We're grateful to know he is now home, and all signs are pointing to a successful procedure. We pray for his continued healing. (Previously, Greg reported knee surgery, in error. Sorry for the confusion.)
Ellen McLaughlin
Ellen McLaughlin will have surgery Monday to have her tonsils removed. We pray for Ellen, along with her parents Katie & T.J. and brother, Jack, for God’s healing presence.
Michael Lee
Sondra and Ted Lee ask for our prayers for their son, Michael. You may recall Michael has been dealing with leukemia. Recently, doctors determined he will need to have additional treatments, so soon he will be spending several days in an Atlanta hospital to receive it. We offer prayers for Michael and his physical healing. Also, we pray for the mental and spiritual wellbeing of Michael and his family as they share this experience.
Linda Parker
Please continue to surround Linda with your love and prayers. She is going through chemo right now, and it's almost too much to bear. For those of you who don't know her, Linda Parker is Kennedy's mom, and she is one of Vine Street's former ministers; she lives and serves in Indiana.