Jane and Brock Short are in Florida, grateful for brief visits with her dad who is nearing the end of his life. Thank you for remembering them in your prayers.
April Hefner is scheduled for hip surgery on Tuesday. Greg says, “This will correct a nagging issue, and we're hopeful a spring will return to her step in 4-6 weeks.” Thank you for surrounding them with your prayers.
Inez Miller died this morning. We commend her to God’s unfailing mercy and pray that she has found joy and peace everlasting in the presence of God. Please remember Dick and Sharalena Miller in your prayers along with all who love Inez.
Jane Short asks for prayers for her father, John Bonnell, 91, who lives in Jupiter, Florida in a Memory Care facility. He was hospitalized twice last week and is experiencing some changes which indicate that his end of life is coming very soon. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions in the facility, Jane is unable to go see him, and the best they can do under the circumstances are supervised phone calls. This is a very difficult situation for Jane and her dad, and she is grateful for our prayers.
Randy Halstead tested positive for Covid-19, but his fever is gone. He continues to have a cough and tightness in his chest. Thank you for your prayers for his full recovery. Jackie was tested as well, and the results were negative.
Clara Martin is receiving hospice care at home.
Inez Miller is at death’s door. We are grateful that Dick and Sharalena have been able to be with her for short visits.
Joe Keith will get important reports about his treatment plan on Thursday.
Linda Parker will continue chemo treatments on Thursday.
Bess Henderson continues to heal and recover at home.
Susan Cole, Ed Cole’s sister-in-law, has Parkinson’s.
Joyce Peacock’s daughter, Kathryn has made a full recovery from Covid-19 and returned to work.
Kalie Rhodes asks for prayers for her mom, Karen, who is a healthcare worker, as well as for herself and the transitions she finds herself in.
Matthew Mart continues his ICU rotation at Vanderbilt. Cate and the kids are with her parents in Kentucky.
We have been asked to lift up in prayer Kelly Newman, the Velazquez family (six members have tested Covid-19 positive), Abi’s friends Juliana and Mike, Fay Delk’s friend Jennifer, who works as a nurse, and Allison Ruari’s cousin Vivian who tested positive for Covid-19.
Inez Miller is nearing the end of her earthly life. Please keep her, Dick and Sharalena, and the family in your prayers.
We pray for nurses, physicians, orderlies, pharmacists, paramedics, and chaplains. We remember in particular
Duke Chenault
Chris Trabue
Joanne Jewett
Anna-Laura Tarpley
Melissa Lyons
Abby Parish
Lydia Grubb
Bryce Dixon
Matthew Mart
Justin, the son-in-law of John and Melba Baxter
Debbie Steeves
Melanie Gao’s mother, Marie Parsons, started chemo therapy this month for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Thank you for remembering her in your prayers. Treatments will continue for several weeks.
Debra Cannon’s mom, Alice Marie Chambers, born on March 25, 1933, died on March 20, 2020 in Chattanooga. Due to the measures put in place to protect the public against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the immediate family will gather for a graveside service on Tuesday. They plan to honor her with a celebration of life at a later date at her home church in Chattanooga. Debra writes, “My sister and my extended family cherish all of your prayers and support of love. We are at peace in Christ and in our faith that she is in the love of her creator.”
We remember and pray for the Keith family (Joe, Julia, and Johanna). Joe was admitted to the hospital yesterday. He is showing signs of improvement, but is undergoing tests.
We continue to lift up our Nashville neighbors as our community comes together to clean up and rebuild after the storm. We are indeed #NashvilleStrong, and our communities of faith are essential to maintaining that strong fabric. Larry Adams wrote, “Well, I must say I have a MUCH greater appreciation for Jesus' words in Mark 13:18. If all this had happened in the dead of a cold winter with snow and rain every day it would have been much worse. I still do not have electricity or heat, but friends have loaned me a small generator to give me limited power. The volunteers have been fantastic. Almost all of the downed vegetation and tornado debris has been hauled to the curb and already picked up by Public Works trucks. What has happened here should be a pattern of efficiency for the rest of the country. We should offer prayers of thanksgiving to God for sending the help of all these people.”
Bess Henderson is undergoing a few more days of rehab at Stallworth, and she is looking forward to going home later this week. Her address is 110 Christopher Place, Nashville, TN 37205.
We lift up in prayer Debra Cannon’s mother who is hospitalized after a stroke; she is also suffering from pneumonia. Debra is in Chattanooga to be with her mother.
And we welcome to the world Josephine Elizabeth Shuler Petersen who was born on Satursday in Seattle. We share in the joy of her parents, Kennedy Shuler Petersen and Joel Petersen, and grandparents, Linda Parker and John Shuler.
We mourn with our neighbors the death of loved ones and the loss of homes and property so many have experienced. We are grateful that those of us who live in the impacted areas were safe during the storm and are able to join us in responding to the needs of neighbors.
New Covenant Christian Church experienced major building damage, but is nevertheless preparing to be part of the neighborhood response in North Nashville. Rev. Tara Williams is one of the pastors at New Covenant Christian Church; she let us know how we can help with the relief effort:
Giving through Week of Compassion is of course an option.
New Covenant is a setting up as a Tornado Relief Distribution Center at 2201 Osage St, Nashville, TN 37208. The church is open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm today through Friday to receive tornado relief donations for the Covenant Pantry:
Canned & Dry Goods
Baby formula and diapers
Soap
Detergent
Cleaning Supplies
Gideon's Army is doing great work as well in North Nashville.
David Tarpley’s surgery this morning went well. Thank you for your prayers for him and Sara. At the time of this writing he was still in recovery.
Bess Henderson may return to Nashville from Florida within the next week or two. Her surgery back in December lasted nine hours, and her recovery was dramatically complicated by a lung embolism. We are thrilled that she has improved enough to be able to fly back soon on a medical transport.
Maryanne Dutmers, a cousin of Kalie Rhodes’s, died Thursday afternoon. Kalie asks for our prayers for the family, especially for Maryanne’s husband, Dave, and their two daughters, Julia and Anna.
David Tarpley is scheduled for knee replacement surgery on Tuesday. Thank you for your prayers.
We ask for prayers for Martha and Joe Moss and their children, Chase and Kim, who are mourning the violent death of Sean, Chase’s younger brother. Details of Sean’s death are still being investigated. We will gather for a celebration of Sean’s life at Vine Street Christian Church on Saturday, February 15, at 2 pm, with visitation beginning at 1 pm. There will also be a visitation time on Friday, February 14, 4-7 pm, at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, 3009 Columbia Ave, Franklin TN 37064.
All that matters right now is we that we surround this family with our love and prayers.
Their mailing address is 3159 Winberry Drive, Franklin TN 37064.
Julia Keith’s brother-in-law, Collin Hickerson, died after suffering a cardiac arrest. Julia was able to join her sister Annette in Memphis during the final days. Julia is back in Nashville and will return to Memphis once funeral arrangements have been confirmed. Thank you for continuing to hold the family, especially Annette, in your prayers.
The National Council of Churches joins with the Church of the Brethren in grieving the death of Rev. Lawan Andimi, executed by Boko Haram, a terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria. Andimi was an ordained minister in Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), a district leader of the Church of the Brethren, and a leader of the ecumenical movement in his region.
Andimi was executed along with a Nigerian soldier after a Jan. 2 attack by Boko Haram. His story gained notoriety after a hostage video was released in which he professed his Christian faith. His execution is only one of many in the past months.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), where Andimi served as chair for the Michika area, has called on all Christians to fast and pray for three days this week for Nigeria. NCC also asks member communions to stand with CAN and join them in lifting up this nation, which has been beleaguered by so much violence, in prayer.
“We have stood by our sisters and brothers in the Church of the Brethren over the past years as they have endured unspeakable persecution and loss,” said Jim Winkler, President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches. “We continue to pray for the safety of those who follow the way of peace that is at the core of this beloved Church and the Christian faith.”
Thank you fro continuing to keep Vaughn and Donna Woods in your prayers. Vaughn is dealing with difficult health issues.
Leigh Ann Zirkle has been battling pneumonia and the flu, and she is grateful for our prayers and cards. Her current address is 135 Camille Street, Manchester, TN 37355.
We celebrate with Erica, James, and Jamie the birth of Declan Rhodes Hayden (8 lbs 6 oz, 18 in) on January 22, 2020. Congratulations to the parents, the very excited, big brother, and the whole family!
Pamela Rowe Bridges, mother-in-law of James Barr and mother of Beth Barr, and a dear friend of James’s mom, Donna Woods, passed away peacefully after a two month struggle with brain cancer. Thank you for remembering the family in your prayers.
On January 10, Carol Doidge’s 94-year-old aunt Mary Lee (Bomer) Pokropus passed quietly in her sleep after two challenging years with her health. She was the last of Carol’s Dad's siblings. The family plans a service to celebrate her life within the month in her home town of Colorado Springs. Thank you for remembering them in your prayers.