 Friends of WPUMC: This is Holy Week – the days between Palm/Passion Sunday and Easter. Each day, we will send a scripture, image, devotional reading, prayer and Taize song to help you observe Jesus’ journey this week. At the bottom of the email will be a few pertinent announcements. Grace and peace to you as we walk this valley together. Scripture: Mark 5: 24b-34 And a large crowd followed him 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.” Pastor's MessageI confess that sometimes, I’m a skeptic. Sometimes I read the stories of biblical miracles, and I wonder if they would ever happen in “real life”. More than ever, we need a miracle in our world or, at least, a vaccine. The ability to save people from virus infection and dangerous illness. The opportunity to gather again, hug again, hold hand again. When the woman reached out to Jesus’ robe, she longed for such a miracle. She reached for healing, for health, for connection, for the restoration of her body and spirit into the community. And Jesus says, “Your faith has made you well.” It was her faith, her hope, her devotion, her desperation and her earnest reaching that made her well, that made her whole. In this time, we keep reaching. Out of faith and trust, out of hope and love, out of grief and frustration – and it might take longer than we would want, but we will be made well. So, hang on, reach out, breathe deep, take heart—our faith story reminds us that brokenness is always restored, and there’s always a new day ready to dawn, bright and beautiful, a miracle in and of itself. --Rev. Sandi Listen to a musical prayer, In God Alone. Click the Play button below: Prayer Most merciful God, your blessed Son, our Savior, was betrayed, whipped, and his face spat upon. Grant us grace to endure the sufferings of the present time, to overcome all that seeks to overwhelm us, confident in the glory that shall yet be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. AnnouncementsMaundy Thursday—Virtual Worship at 6:30 pm Tomorrow, April 9, is Maundy Thursday. We invite you to join us on Facebook (visit our “Washington Park UMC” page) live at 6:30 pm for a service of light and darkness. In preparation, gather these things: a candle and lighter, bread or cracker, a drink, a damp washcloth (or access to a sink). Children's Ministry A Message from Miss Sheri to our Kiddos: Miss Sheri has several messages for our kids during Holy Week. Here is the latest installment: Easter Preparation
You can help us with our Easter preparations! Our Living Cross has been an important symbol in our neighborhood at Eastertime. This year, since we will not be able to gather in person on Easter Sunday, we ask that you help prepare by making flowers at home! Below are a few links to tutorials on how to make paper flowers. On the Saturday before Easter (April 11th), we will have the cross outside on the lawn (if the weather is bad, the cross will be in the courtyard). Throughout the day, please come over to church and place your flower/s on the cross. Please make a point not to congregate with others and keep appropriate social distance while helping us prepare for our Easter celebration! Paper Flower DIY videos on YouTube: Comments are closed.
|