The Tennessee State Soccer Association announced recently its annual awards. Congratulations goes out to Aaron Partington, who was named girls recreation coach of the year! Aaron will be among 13 people honored at the TSSA Hall of Fame dinner in late January. Way to go, Coach Partington!
Tennessee Regional Assembly
Please remember in your prayers the Tennessee Regional Assembly taking place this weekend. Among those from Vine Street participating in the worship and reconciling work of the event are: Hope Hodnett; Julia & Joe Keith; Nancy & Thomas Kleinert; Eva Evans; Jackie Halstead; Martha & Roger Bishop; and Greg Rumburg.
Hurricane Matthew
Many prayers are already being offered for persons in the path of Hurricane Matthew, estimated to be the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic in the last nine years.
Sara Tarpley is among those praying. She makes, “a special prayer request for the prisoners and military force at Guantanamo and in particular for our younger son Matthew, who is deployed there with a public affairs unit of the Tennessee National Guard. He was able to communicate with our older son earlier [Monday]. It sounds as if little provision has been made for the safety of those at Guantanamo, whether military or detainees. I heard on the news earlier [Monday] that nonessential employees and their families have been evacuated. We are seriously concerned.”
Meanwhile, Week of Compassion will be in constant contact with its partners on the developing situation in Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas and other islands impacted by Matthew. Joining Sara, Week of Compassion and others, Lord, hear our prayers….
Welcome, Zelie
Zelie Rose Warren was born on Tuesday, Sept. 20 to Heidi and Mitchum Warren of North Canton, Ohio. Norma Warren is the great grandmother! Zelie weighed 6 pounds 9½ ounces and was 18 inches long. We celebrate with Norma and this family!
Arrangements for Sue Boyd
Pat Bentrup shared with us the arrangement information for her sister-in-law Sue Boyd. Visitation will be Friday, Sept. 30, from 4-8 p.m. at Woodbine Hickory Chapel. The funeral will be Saturday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m. Visitation Saturday will be at 10 a.m. Sue died on Sunday, Sept. 25.
Pat Bentrup
We give thanks to God for the life of Sue Boyd, the sister in law of Pat Bentrup. You’ll recall Sue had liver transplant surgery last week. Doctors said it went “phenomenally well,” and on Friday Sue was making plans for the weeks and months ahead. But something changed overnight Saturday and Sue died early Sunday morning. It was a shocking turn. Please keep Sue’s family and friends, including Pat, in your prayers.
Pat Bentrup
Pat Bentrup's sister-in-law had liver transplant surgery last night. Please keep her in your prayers.
Mitch Warren
Longtime Vine Street Christian Church member Mitch Warren died at home Sunday night after many years with Parkinson's disease. Graveside services will be at Maplewood Cemetery Thursday, Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. in Paris, Tennessee, where Mitch grew up. No visitation is scheduled. McEvoy Funeral Home in Paris is handling the arrangements. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Vine Street Christian Church.
We are grateful to God for Mitch’s life, and we pray for strength and courage for Norma, Mitch’s wife, and for their family and friends. You can read the obituary here.
Mitch Warren
We’ve learned Mitch Warren is receiving hospice care at home to ensure comfort. We offer prayers of strength and courage for his wife Norma and all of Mitch’s family and friends.
Virginia Grimm
Virginia Grimm asks for our prayers. She is dealing with some knee-related issues that will keep her close to home for at least the next couple of weeks. We pray for her comfort and that doctors will soon be able to find a helpful care plan for her.
Woody Martin
Woody Martin, Clara Martin’s husband and a lifelong member of Vine Street Christian Church, died Sunday, Aug. 28. A memorial service is planned for Thursday, Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vine Street's memorial fund. Arrangements are being handled by Nashville Funeral and Cremation. We give thanks to God for Woody’s life, and we hold Clara and all who love Woody in our prayers.
Sondra Lee
Sondra is recuperating at home from a recent surgery. We are grateful that the procedure was successful and that Sondra's recovery has gone so well. Thank you for your prayers!
Arrangements Announced for Paul Johnson
A memorial service celebrating the life of Paul Johnson will be Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 at 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Vine Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Visitation with the family will follow the service. Paul died Aug. 19. The obituary is posted here.
Paul Johnson
We’ve learned Paul Johnson died early Friday morning at the Alive Hospice residence. Paul was a part of Vine Street Christian Church for many years, often seen on a ladder working on a repair around our campus or singing in the choir. In the spring, Paul and Mary Ann, his wife, moved back to Nashville from Colorado. Please keep in your prayers this family—including the couple’s adult children Colleen, David and Paul Jr. and their families—along with all who love Paul. Funeral plans will be announced later.
Linda Edwards
Linda Edwards has a fractured sacrum and will be recovering for a few weeks. We pray she will heal well so that she may return to the way of life she loves.
A Sunday Update
In worship this morning we celebrated Christian education and asked for God’s blessing on teachers and learners. The congregation pledged, among other promises, to pray for our volunteer teachers, so please help to fulfill that promise this week and throughout the Christian education year. The fall 2016-17 Christian education opportunities begin next week, Aug. 21 at 9 a.m. Adults will meet in Fellowship Hall and children will meet throughout the church building.
We also shared prayers for teachers, students and their parents who have started school, college or university classes or will be soon. We pray the academic year will be enriching!
Finally, we hold in our prayers Paul Johnson and his family. Paul was transferred recently to the Alive Hospice residence. His wife, Mary Ann, and their family ask for our prayers, as Paul appears to be approaching the end of his life.
Andrew Reed & Jessica Faulkner
Andrew Reed will marry Jessica Faulkner Friday, Aug. 12 at the Christian Church in Anchorage, Alaska! Steve & Nina Reed ask for our prayers as this couple begins a new season together. We also offer prayers for traveling mercies as family and friends celebrate with Jessica and Andrew.
Gigi, Andrea & Tony
Katie McLaughlin asks for prayers for her friends Tony and Andrea and their newborn baby Gabriella Grace (“Gigi”). At just a few hours old, it was discovered that Gigi has hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare heart defect. She will have her first of three heart surgeries within the week and will remain hospitalized for at least month. We pray for healing mercies for baby Gigi and strength for mom and dad.
Allyn Maxfield-Steele Ordained
Congratulations to the Rev. Allyn Maxfield-Steele! Allyn was ordained to Christian ministry Sunday during a service at Vine Street. Family and friends, along with congregants from Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Springfield and Vine Street, were on hand to affirm God’s call. We celebrate this moment and ask God’s continuing blessing on Allyn’s ministry!
Congratulations, Linda & Tim
Congratulations to Linda Barnes and Tim Crenshaw! The couple was married Sunday afternoon. We extend our good wishes, too, to their children—Clare, Elizabeth, Emily, Fergus, Molly and Patrick! The Rev. Dr. Jim Crenshaw officiated the service.