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.
Update: Clara Zamata
We’ve learned the funeral arrangements for Jim Zamata’s mother, Clara, who died Friday. Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22 at Bilbrey Funeral Home in Crossville. The funeral will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, anyone who would like to make a gift can make it to FOCCAS-TN, an animal shelter in Cumberland County; the ASPCA; or your local humane society. Jim says, “Mom was an extremely compassionate person, and we grew up around animals, many of them rescued.”
Clara Zamata
Jim Zamata’s mother, Clara, died unexpectedly Friday evening in Crossville. She was 84. Arrangements are pending. We hold in our prayers Jim, Kathy, their family and all who love Clara.
Carissa's family
Carissa asks for our prayers for her family. She and her sister are mourning the death of their father, and their mother has just been diagnosed with dementia. Carissa lives in Nashville, but her mom and sisters live in another state. Thank you for keeping them in your prayers.
Sunday Prayers
In worship today, we continued offering prayers for Linda Parker following her recent surgery. She is Kennedy Shuler's mom and a former Vine Street minister.
And we join in celebration—Marjorie Taggart's daughter, Carrie Wilkerson, delivered on Friday evening a boy, Kieran James! Mom and baby are just fine. Grandma Marjorie is jubilant!
Linda Parker
Rev. Linda Parker will have surgery Thursday, Feb. 16, in Evansville, Indiana, where she resides. Linda is the mother of Kennedy Shuler and a former minister of this congregation. Recovery from the surgery will take several weeks, and Kennedy will be traveling to be with her mom for part of the time. Whenever surgery is involved, we pray God will be with the medical team, that their minds will be sharp and their hands will be full of skill and compassion. This time is no different as we pray, too, for Linda’s comfort and healing. If you would like to send a note of encouragement, please call or email the church office for information.
Julia Keith & Family
We hold in prayer Julia Keith and her family. Julia’s aunt Lou Bethay died Saturday morning unexpectedly. She was 91. Saturday night, Julia’s stepmother Mary Cathryn Bethay died. She had been ill recently. May God’s comforting presence be felt like never before.
Helping Neighbors
Our prayers continue for our homeless neighbors in Nashville. We ask for God’s blessing on our Room in the Inn partnership this week at the church. Thank you to all the volunteers who offer time, food and support. And we offer gratitude for the leadership of our youth who collected donations today after worship for the Society of St. Andrew, part of our annual participation in Souper Bowl of Caring.
Mary Cathryn Bethay
We offer prayers for Mary Cathryn Bethay, Julia Keith’s stepmother. Mary Cathryn’s heath is declining; she appears to be approaching the end of her life. We’re grateful to know she is being cared for in Memphis by a hospice team.