WORD for the Week for February 16, 2020
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
PERSEVERANCE IN PAIN

Are you in pain? Is someone in your family or circle of friends struggling? Wondering what to do when pain comes into our lives? How can we be helpful and supportive friends to people who are experiencing pain and suffering? How can we persist in the midst of our own pain?

There are no easy answers, but as we ponder the story of Job, we will learn more about resilience, compassion and God's great mercy. 

COME AND WORSHIP
Sabbath Beginnings – Sacred Journey – Traditional Worship
WORD for Sabbath Beginnings 8am
Scripture Text: Job 19: 1-27 (NRSV)

Worship Leader: Rev. Jim McChesney

Holy Communion : We come to the end of the long and often excruciating experience of Job. Is it possible that one lesson on the experience of Job can teach us that we need a caring gentleness for, and a listening heart to, those who are suffering? Also, can we be gentle toward ourselves in our own suffering? “I will not leave you comfortless.”(Dwight Haberman)
WORD for Sacred Journey 8:30am

The Story: Perseverance in Pain: How Long? A Community Midrash

Reflection:   Every life has moments of crisis. When moments become seasons of crisis, they challenge our adaptability and resources. And, if these seasons become extended periods of time, we may find our capacity for pain becomes stretched beyond what we believe we can tolerate. How we define and respond to these times gives us insight into ourselves, our spirituality, and our belief about God. This week we explore the story of Job and consider how we persevere when suffering seems too great to bear. What are the resources that help us move forward? Do we meet God-with-us at the place where we abandon our piety? Come join the journey and bring a neighbor or friend along with your questions. Both (and all) are welcome!
WORD for Traditional Worship 10am


The Story: Perseverance in Pain: How Long? – Rev. Frenchye Magee

Reflection:
When is enough, enough? 

How long is too long before faith in God begins to buckle under the pain of life? 

Where do we find strength to persevere when we reach the point in our journey where even our most significant human relationships have been strained by the depth of our existential crisis?

All these questions are before us this week as we consider the story of Job and the mystery of suffering. When life is hard, it’s easy to shape our worldview around the pain. It’s also easy to deny the alienation that seasons of pain and crisis can produce. Neither position is the way of authentic spirituality that asks us to practice endurance and lament. Pastor Frenchye shares the sermon and we consider the paradox that accompanies our human journey of love, friendship, pain, perseverance, and God-with-us. Invite your friends and neighbors to join you for worship…and stay for brunch. You may find nourishment in every way!

WORSHIP BULLETIN ARCHIVE

The Bible In Your Hands

You're invited to "dig deeper." Here are a handful of resources:

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church resources:
Worship Bulletins  | online archive of HAUMC worship bulletins
Sermon Recordings  | HAUMC Sacred Journey and Traditional Worship sermon recordings
Devotional Ministry  | HAUMC seasonal daily devotional ministry

Scripture exegesis and commentary resources:
Bible Gateway  | the Bible in hundreds of translations (NRSV, CEB, The Message, etc.)
BibleHub  | parse out the original Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT)
Enter the Bible  | historical/cultural context for each book of the Bible from Luther Seminary
Oxford Biblical Studies  | historical/cultural context for each book of the Bible from Oxford
Working Preacher  | read and listen to lectionary commentary from Luther Seminary faculty

Art and Music resources:
Art in the Christian Tradition  | The Jean and Alexander Heard Divinity Library at Vanderbilt
Hymnary  | a resource for both modern and traditional worship music and hymns
Sing for Joy  | a worship music and hymn resource from St. Olaf College
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WORD for the Week is a ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.