April 8, 2020 “Hear my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my petition. Listen to me and answer me; I have no peace, because of my cares.” Psalm 55:1-2 Dear East Tennessee Friends, I am writing to you on Wednesday in Holy Week. Psalm 55 is the Psalm appointed for Morning Prayer today. Like you, I have been praying fervently these last several weeks for God to hear and listen as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend our
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Collect for Wednesday in Holy Week Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. I recently read an account of a Civil Rights era student
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Collect for Tuesday in Holy Week O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Good Friday liturgy from
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Collect for Monday in Holy Week Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Resurrection people
Read MoreFINANCIAL RELIEF FOR CONGREGATIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC As the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues, congregations can seek financial relief from the federal government. Here are details about relief currently available: PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM – WHAT CHURCHES NEED TO DO NOW **The Payroll Protection Program has been endorsed by the Standing Committee. You do not need their prior approval to apply. We only ask that you follow the guidelines to ensure that the loan is used for forgivable
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March 31, 2020 “Batter my heart, three-personed God; for, you As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.” –From Divine Meditations 14, by John Donne East Tennessee Friends, I am writing to you on the death day of John Donne, poet and Anglican priest from the 17th century. I am writing to you in a time
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March 25, 2020 The Annunciation of the Lord Dear East Tennessee Friends, I am writing to you on a most holy day, the Annunciation of the Lord. This is the day in the Church calendar when we celebrate the announcing angel declaring to Mary that she is most favored by God and will conceive and bear a son, who will be named Jesus. In the Middle Ages, this story from St. Luke’s Gospel was depicted in sacred art with
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