Worship March 22, 2020
Welcome
Well here we are, not in person but the next best thing. How are you feeling? As we all experience these changing times please offer each other compassion and grace, we all need it especially now.
I welcome you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. To God be the Glory we have the freedom to worship. Our worship may feel and look different, but God has not changed, and we come to him now.
Announcements
- Per recommendations of Bishop Ough The Ogilvie and Mora Churches will continue to be closed through March 29. At this time we do not know beyond the 29th but are planning for additional weeks just in case it is longer.
- Encourage to call neighbors, family, friends – stay connected
- There are folks available to run errands, get groceries etc. call me if you have a need
Prayer
Source of Light, God of great mercy and love, we come to you this day seeking restoration of our sight. Clear away our blindness and give us a new vision of all that we can accomplish in your name. Give us strength and confidence to truly witness to your abiding love and faithfulness. For we offer this prayer in Jesus’ Name. AMEN.
Children’s Message
Scripture John 9: 1-7
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed and came home seeing.
Meditation
We are told that every 20 minutes, a person in this nation loses his or her eyesight, going blind completely. Every year 50,000 Americans go blind. Some 20 million people have lost the sight. For most people the thought of going blind is a terrifying thought. A recent poll had been taken saying that most people would rather lose any other sense or ability physically than to lose their ability to see.
When my mom was 17 or so she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. At that time her most significant symptom was the loss of most of her eyesight. Can you imagine that?
She never spoke of her feelings about her eyesight, but I can imagine it was very scary.
Living in little Lynd, MN the education available for someone with limited vision would mean having to discontinue going to school. Fortunately my grandparents determined her education needed to continue so they packed her up and took her all the way across the state to Faribault, MN to a school for the blind and that is where she finished her high school education.
Our scripture this morning talks about a blind man. A man that didn’t know that it was Jesus walking by, but Jesus saw him.
Today I’m thinking about a different blindness, the blindness of our sudden change of culture. A change caused by the virus COVID-19. We have had to change much, maybe all, about how we manage our daily lives.
The blind man’s eyes were opened. He then had to figure out a new way to live. Maybe, just maybe, COVID-19 is opening our eyes to a new way to live, to the world around us.
Friday morning I was looking out the window and there walked by a man, a really scruffy looking man. He had a large dirty backpack on his back, was somewhat hunched over and was what I would guess as a homeless person.
I suddenly questioned if I would have noticed him before I was, well blind to what was happening around me.
This time of so much change can be a time for us to see the world with newly opened eyes.
- Our eyes might be opened to the needs of a neighbor
- Our eyes might be opened to the hungry
- Our eyes might be opened to the need to forgive our self
- Our eyes might be opened to the need to forgive another
- Our eyes might be opened to our need for selfcare
Throughout my mom’s life her vision improved and worsened many times. At the time of her death her vision was darn near perfect.
What is God opening your eyes to see during this time of change. My prayer for you is that first you see Jesus with a fresh view and then you see those around you with a new vision.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
Benediction
Lord, give us such sight, that we may see the many ways of serving you by helping others. Help us bring sight to others who dwell in deep darkness. AMEN.