Joe Keith shares that Julia Keith became ill early this morning. After receiving care at St. Thomas, she is home and resting. We pray for her comfort and healing.
Calin Trabue
Helen Trabue asks that we keep Calin in our prayers. He has been ill this weekend.
Bill Tallent & family
Bill Tallent’s brother Ben has been ill and is now receiving hospice care. We pray for Ben’s comfort and peace for this family.
Brian Berhow
Brian is recuperating at home after knee surgery on Thursday morning. We are grateful everything went well and hope he'll enjoy being off his feet for a few days! Thank you for your prayers for a speedy recovery.
Elizabeth Lawrence
Risley Lawrence shares that Elizabeth was admitted to Centennial Medical Center Thursday. Doctors are providing care, and Risley hopes she will be able to go home sometime Friday. We join Risley in that prayer, too.
Ed & Doris Farley
Shirley Forstman asks that we keep Vine Street friends Ed and Doris Farley in our prayers. Ed has been ill lately.
Update: Brooke Hall
Please keep the family of Ann Roberts O'Hara in your prayers. Ann died on Sunday and is the stepmother of Brooke Hall, our wedding liason. The funeral is Thursday in Dallas.
Brooke Hall
Brooke Hall's stepmother is nearing the end of her life. Brooke asks for prayers for her family, especially her father.
Family of Gladys Hires
We offer prayers of support to the family and friends of Gladys Hires, who died Friday. She was 100 years old. Gladys is the grandmother of Steve Reed and the great-grandmother of Kara, John and Andrew.
Chi Rho Retreat
We're grateful for the regional Chi Rho retreat this weekend at Bethany Hills. Sarah Matthews, Grant Gao, Audrey Gao and Molly Lyons attended. Julia Matthews and Rob McRight served as counselors.
Interim Regional Minister
Rev. Dr. Beth Dobyns has been called to begin serving as the Interim Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tennessee. She brings extensive experience in specialized interim ministry as well as congregational, area, and regional ministry. Beth will be joining us from Florence Christian Church, Florence, Kentucky.
Educated at Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas, and St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Beth believes that everything in life has the possibility of teaching us more about how we acknowledge and act upon God's call in our lives. She brings a great love for the church and for the clarifying work that is possible during transitions and transformations.
Beth is married to Bruce Dobyns, senior minister at First Christian Church in Mayfield, Kentucky. Their permanent home is in Mayfield. They are the parents of two fine young adult women, Leslie Forrester and Nicole Dobyns. They also claim their fine son-in-law, Philip Forrester, as a son.
Some of the passions that help define Beth's ministry include taking the time for lively conversations, working toward clarity, recognizing joy and hopefulness when we see it in the stories of our lives and our ministries, and developing connections among ministers and congregations. She is looking forward to getting acquainted with Disciples in Tennessee.
Beth enjoys quilting and tries to start a new project with each new location. She also has a lifelong love of reading-ask her about her book list sometime. Cooking and exploring new locations are also sources of enjoyment.
Beth begins her ministry with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Tennessee on January 1, 2015.
A note from Rachel
To the dear people of Vine Street Christian Church,
My family and I are so grateful for all of your prayers, hugs, cards, and caring words. At my father’s memorial service, many people talked about what a beautiful church Vine Street is. I am so thankful that some of my extended family and old family friends were able to experience what we all could take for granted—the sweet spirit of worship at Vine Street. Thanks to all the caring staff, elders and friends who have blessed us with your kindness during our time of grief.
Love,
Rachel Dixon and the family of Bob Register
Barbara McKinney
We offer prayers for the family and friends of Barbara McKinney. Barb died on Friday, following a recent stroke. She is the grandmother of T.J. McLaughlin and the great-grandmother of Jack and Ellen. Services will be this week in Illinois.
Cheers for Leadership
We celebrate the leadership of two individuals who are part of Vine Street Christian Church. Julia Keith just completed a term as president of the Tennessee Disciples Women's Ministries. Meanwhile, Martha Bishop now begins her term as director of study and service. We celebrate these leaders, and all their colleagues, who provide direction to the region and to the church.
Milly Bles and her family
Milly Bles is the newborn child of Jordan and Robyn Fickes Bles. Robin was part of the Vine Street community a few years ago as she completed Divinity School at Vanderbilt. Milly was born in September and within a few days doctors realized she was experiencing some dire complications. But most recently she’s had what appears to be a successful surgery to correct intestinal blockage. We pray for Milly in the spirit of a Facebook posting by a family friend: “Let’s keep praying for her recovery and for positive steps of progress. And let's thank our creator God, who has walked with the Bles family every step of this journey.” Jordan and Robyn are Disciples ministers in Kentucky.
Ellen Rose McLaughlin
With great joy we announce the arrival of Ellen Rose McLaughlin! She was born late this morning, checking in at 8 lbs. 15oz., 20 1/2 inches. Congratulations to Ellen's parents, Katie & T.J. McLaughlin, and to her brother, Jack.
Phoebe Binkley
Carolyn Binkley stopped by the church yesterday to share her best wishes with the congregation. She noted, too, that her mom, Phoebe Binkley, has been ill lately and is having tests this week to clarify what's happening. We are keeping this family in our prayers.
CYF Retreat
We are grateful several of our teenagers were able to exprience the regional Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) retreat this weekend, including Thompson Berhow, Will Carson, Lucas Cauthen, Clare Crenshaw and Julia Matthews. Rev. Hope Hodnett served as an adult leader.
Update: Barbara McKinney
Our prayers continue for Barbara McKinney, T.J. McLaughlin's grandmother. Katie shares that Barb suffered extensive brain damage following a stroke on Sunday and is now receiving hospice care near her Illinois home. Prayers of comfort continue, too, for T.J., Katie, Jack and for all who love Barb.
A Note from the Tarpleys
We received a note from Sara Tarpley sharing, "David and I would like to thank our Vine Street family for all the emails, calls and cards expressing concern and offering help after David's recent fall. I am happy to report that he is feeling much better." Following a doctor's appointment yesterday, David is taking steps to return to work, plus they will be able to visit out-of-town family soon. "We are so blessed to be part of such a caring community," Sara says.