So here's a follow up to last week: if prayer really, truly makes space for God's action in the world, what's up with healing prayer?
Does God heal? How does God heal? Do you need faith? How much faith? Why doesn't God just heal everyone right away? All good questions. Jill and Kevin share some reflections from scripture and their own stories.
How can we pray when we are grieving or angry? Because there is a lot to be grieved and angry about.
Jill and Kevin tag team "bring your anger to church" Sunday.
Click here to listen (right click and “save link as…” to download)
The good Doctor looks at 1 Timothy 3 to give us the church as explored in three metaphors… and a bunch of different stories!
And given the first metaphor… here are some nice photos from our love feast the evening before this sermon:
2014.02.16 - Prayer 2014 - Leshia Knopf
Leshia Knopf shares an honest and reflective sermon on suffering, lament, trust, and being angry with God. Leshia is a part of the Eucharist Church “Preaching Guild”, a student of theology at McMaster Divinity College, and has spent the last few months driving her mother back and forth to her cancer appointments.
Suffice to say, this is not an intellectual exercise.
Leshia draws from the (little preached on) prophet Habakkuk to present a way of wrestling with God that is both faithful and raw.
Jeff Wynands also lead us in songs of lament, including a remixed version of Psalm 137.
The music starts at 32 minutes.
The lyrics to the song are below:
If I sing it wouldn’t mean a thing
If I dance it wouldn’t prove a chance
If I shout it wouldn’t lift the doubt
But I will if just to trust
We sit in endless sorrow at this river of defeat
We hang our songs in sadness on this tree of memory
Our joys are shapeless shadows these foreign city streets
We’ve fallen prey to mockers and their morbid mockeries
These hands surrender function and this heart it stutters beats
Were I to forget mount Zion my lips would surely seize
The wreck and rubble of a promise now dust upon our feet
We pray the same for the infant of these wretched godless deeds
If I sing it wouldn’t mean a thing
If I dance it wouldn’t prove a chance
If I shout it wouldn’t lift the doubt
But I will if just to trust…
Your will is enough oh God
Father this city’s cursed but you bless it with your name
Oh son this home is exile but you make it all the same
Suffering, the Holy Spirit, and Waiting on Words
Acts 2, Romans 8
“Today I have a hard time believing all things work out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Today I have doubt.”
What should we do when we suffering or when we grieve? How do we speak when we lack the words?
Music led by Joel Cumby and Dave Hamilton - starts 25 minutes in.
