Sunday, March 29, 2020

SILENCE

Set a timer for 5 minutes and use a breath prayer.
On the inhale, mentally say: “Search me, O God...”
On the exhale: “...and know my heart.”

OPENING WORD

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

OPENING SONG


by Tom Bernett, PUMC contemporary worship leader (length 3:39)
TEACHING

the Daily Examen—a way of praying by looking back on your day, seeing where God’s movement was most evident


SONG OF RESPONSE


by Jess Ray (length 2:35)
OFFERING

Think about the food, house, money, and even toilet paper you currently have. What a gift it is to have enough, and more than enough. How might you offer gifts to others out of the abundance God has given you? Click here for a list of service opportunities, and let that be your offering.
SCRIPTURE LESSON

A large crowd followed Jesus and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Mark 5:24-34

MESSAGE


Rev. David Beam
originally preached on July 31, 2016

This past week I was reminded of one of my favorite sermons I have preached while at Pinehurst UMC. This sermon, entitled “The Faith-Filled Woman,” was originally preached in July of 2016. This message was my attempt to explore the beautiful intersection of suffering and gratitude. How is it that people of faith can remain grateful in the midst of such overwhelming difficulty? As our country continues to struggle with the Covid-19 pandemic and the great difficulties it has caused, I have also been surprised at times by the deep gratitude I have felt as well. Now, more than ever, I am thankful for our church family and God's continued presence with us. This pandemic has reminded me that just because a person experiences hardship, it does not mean they are any less blessed. 
CLOSING PRAYER

We pray for a mindset not of scarcity, but of abundance. Make us into a people who don’t hoard, but share. Help us give freely of money that was never ours in the first place—it always belonged to you. Free us from the fear that makes us clutch so greedily at what we already have and seek to acquire even more than we currently own. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

We pray for people who suffer abuse by their family, and are now trapped at home with their abusers. Let your miraculous might stop the abuse and bring freedom. Bring your healing to fractured relationships with self and others. Bring patience to every relationship between spouses and every relationship between parent and child, sister and brother. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

We pray for people with addiction issues who are not able to meet in supportive groups at this time, especially those who rely on AA. Lord, we lament how addiction already leads to such isolation—let it not bring even more isolation upon your sons & daughters in this time of social distancing. Especially we pray for protection against overdose, which is more likely when people use alone. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

We pray against pre-judgment and misunderstanding. We pray for trust in each other and a belief in the common good, the common gifts you’ve given all your children. Wherever we are convinced that we are different from another—or better than another—give us right vision that we might see our neighbor as our brother or sister, and love them unconditionally. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Amen.
(For more on the daily examen, click here .)