Toward Sunday

We continue this week in our Lenten worship series, Hope in Dying, by turning to John 11.28-36. In this story we witness the grief of Mary, Martha and Jesus as they mourn the death of Lazarus.  We hope to reflect upon both Jesus’ experience with grief and our own as we gather this Sunday in worship.

Fred Craddock, in Speaking of Dying: Recovering the Church’s Voice in the Face of Death, writes, If we as the church are to carry out our ministry to the dying and if we ourselves are to die well, we need solid support and rich resources because this ministry will test us. Such resources can only come from God’s love for us” (Kindle Locations 930-932). Our worship series will be rooted in the hope we find through God’s love for us as we reflect each week on a different theme related to grief, dying, and death.

HOPE IN DYING OUTLINE

February 18 7:00 am Ash Wednesday Worship
February 22 (Mark 1.9-15) Facing Death & Resurrection in Christian Tradition
March 1 (Mark 8.31-38) How Did Jesus Face Death?  
March 8 (John 11.28-36Grief & Becoming Wounded Healers
March 15 (John 3.14-21) Atonement: What Does Jesus’ Death Mean?
March 22 (John 12.20-33) Writing Our Own Deaths
March 29 (Mark 14.1-15) Dignity in Dying
April 2 6:00 pm Maundy Thursday Meal & Holy Conferencing
April 3 7:00 pm Good Friday Worship
April 5 (Mark 16.1-8) Hope & New Life in Christ

Take time to read John 11.28-36. John’s Gospel states, “33When Jesus saw [Mary] weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus began to weep.”

What is one of your memories of a loved one who has passed away?  Remember the person who died. What about the person was significant in your life?  How has your journey with grief over this death been?

Take time this evening before you sleep to pray this poem by John Henry Newman:
O Lord, support us all the day long, until the
shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and
the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is
over, and our work is done.  Then in your
mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest,
and peace at the last.
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