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The Church’s computer blanked out at 1:08:37, but please hang in there, we come back at 1:12:27! (And you can hear the Pastor (me) be wrong about FB and so much more…)
Mark Wheeler
Mark 1:29-39
02/07/2021
“Prayer Per Productivity Priority”
Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church
Do any of you have a cell phone which battery barely makes it through the day before it dies? One of my first cell phones needed to be recharged every 20 hours, regardless how much I did or didn’t use it. This phone, which I’ve had now for almost 5 years, still easily holds a charge for 30 hours under normal usage (on Zoom it only lasts for a few hours!).
The thing is, it’s not worth much when the battery runs out. So I generally recharge it every morning.
My prayer for each Sunday is that this time together in worship and prayer under the authority of God’s Word works as a recharge for you. I, personally, need this every week – and in different ways, every day – and while our worship experience is far more than simply “plugging into the Spiritual recharging station” – by hearing God’s Word and sharing in prayer and offering our sacrifice of praise and finances – I do find myself recharged for another week.
Today’s Gospel reading tells a story of Jesus “recharging” – and I believe that sets an example of at least one way we, too, might find refreshment, rejuvenation, re-energized faith, for living faith-filled lives!!
We gather today, with aches and pains, worries and fears, doubts and debts, hopes and dreams, and in the midst of all of that we gather to focus on our Savior and Lord.
Holy God, we thank You for the glimpses we catch of Your gifts of peace, love, joy and hope, and light. Even in the midst of fear, of challenge, of struggle – even when we have not been sure of tomorrow,
You have ignited the Light within us … that we might glow with its brilliance from the inside out. Keep reminding us how to Believe … and welcome … and know we are welcomed … even when …. Amen.
Let’s take a second to greet each other, and those in the room, look at the camera and say HI to your friends who are at home. Tell your loved ones, “May the Presence of Christ be in you.”
Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.
For those who made it into the building this morning – thank you for wearing your masks and following the seating and walking protocols. We do this not to protect ourselves from others, but to protect others from ourselves. Because we love each other, we wear masks and keep distance to keep each other safe from this “invisible potential enemy”. COVID numbers are way up in our area – let’s not give them an opportunity to climb even higher. Our Elders are listening to CDC guidelines and deciding on what seems best practices for each others’ safety. We love you, and we want everyone to be and to stay well.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.
Listen now and join in as Pastor Kathy leads our Call to Worship from Psalm 147 – and listen for and proclaim aloud our Praise for God Almighty – Hallelu Yah!
Our song of praise today sings praises to this great God we cal our Lord and Savior! – Praise the Lord! O Heaven Adore Him – (sung respectfully and under the mask)!
Through the Written Word,
And endorsed by our spoken word,
May we know Your Living Word,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ten days from now, Wednesday, February 17, is Ash Wednesday – the beginning of the Season of Lent. We will be focusing on Matthew’s Gospel stories of healing and restoration. I do not know any Pastor, or Teacher, or Restaurateur, or Medical professional, or Parent, or Student, or really almost anyone, who is not absolutely exhausted after the last nearly 11 months (330-ish days) of Pandemic-craziness. We all need healing and restoration!
Today, still in Mark’s first chapter, after the Baptism, after Jesus’ 40 days in the Wilderness, after He travels up to Galilee and starts calling Disciples to follow Him and after Jesus’ first miracle in Mark’s Gospel (the casting out the “impure spirit” from the man in the Capernaum synagogue we read about last week), in Jesus’ own exhaustion He requires restoration!
Hear the Word of God … Mark 1:29-39 …. —- [The screen will show this passage.]
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Even Jesus had to recharge. Today we learn how He did that.
Jesus traveled all around the northern Israel area of Galilee preaching, driving out demons, and healing people. One day, Jesus and some of His disciples went to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was there in bed with a fever. Jesus took her by the hand and helped her up. All at once, the fever left her and she began to prepare a meal for everyone.
Here’s the Synagogue (50’ x 60’ + prayer room, 4th Century on the ruins of the synagogue Jesus would have been in).
Here’s a view from the Synagogue entrance facing the Sea of Galilee. That church (St. Peter’s RC Church, 1990, built over the ruins of a 2nd Century pre-RC church) is built directly over Simon and Andrew’s house where Simon’s mother-in-law was healed. That church has a glass floor, so worshipers can look into the ruins of this house, probably the world’s very first ever “house church”.
That evening many people came to Jesus to be healed of all sorts of diseases. The whole town gathered at the door to watch. That must’ve been a long day. I can tell you that most pastors, after a Sunday morning of leading worship and preaching and praying with people, go home, and with the newspaper in hand, take a nice nap! Not Jesus, not in this story! He gave of Himself all day long!
Jesus got up before sunrise the next morning and found a quiet place to pray and recharge His spirit. Now, I cannot say for you, or for my colleagues in ministry, but Tuesday thru Thursday, I, too, get up before sunrise – 5:30 – and I make a pot of coffee and a small breakfast, and I sit in my corner easy chair and start the day in God’s Word and in prayer. But on Monday, that’s my “the next day”, I do everything I can to sleep in! I mean I try to spend time in prayer and in the Word, but not first-thing-in-the-morning! But Jesus’ “next day” starts “very early in the morning” – not to make a pot of coffee and sit in an easy chair – Jesus leaves the house and goes for a jaunt to a solitary place.
When Simon and the others wake up, they search for Him and find Him and say, “Everyone is looking for You.”
Jesus had recharged His batteries and was ready to go. He says to them, “Let’s go to other towns and villages so that I can preach to them, too. That’s what I came to do.” So they travel throughout the region of Galilee, and Jesus preaches in the synagogues and heals people and casts out demons.
Jesus plugged into His power-source first thing in the morning! When His disciples find Him, how charged do you thing His “battery” was?
Here’s the takeaway for us: If Jesus thought it was important for Him to recharge His spiritual battery, it’s important for us to do that, too.
My prayer is that our time together in worship and prayer, in submitting to God’s Word, and to each other, provides that kind of restoration for us, for me, for you!
And, that’s why we are encouraged to spend time in prayer and in God’s Word every day
Where was your “spiritual battery when you walked in the building this morning? Where is it right now? Maybe, before we leave this place and experience, we’ll be more fully charged to live the faith God calls us to live this week!
God, help us to remember that just as our bodies must be renewed by proper rest, our spirit must be renewed by spending time with You in prayer, Bible study, and worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer Page –
And now – call out a name, a place, a people, a situation, you are lifting to the Lord in prayer …. “Have mercy on us, O Lord.” [Lord’s Prayer] Amen.
– Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or click HERE or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”)
As we move into a time of recharging, at the Lord’s Table – I invite you to gather your bread and “wine” together. Pastor Kathy will lead us in prayer, and in that prayer say the words of institution and we are invited to partake. For those in the room here at church – remember to remove the cellophane top of your cup to discover the “unleavened wafer”, and then, at the appropriate time, carefully unwrap the aluminum cover to open the juice = raise your hand if you want some help, one of our Deacons will be at your side to help.
And while Kathy is praying, she will invite us all to join in one of the longest-lived statements of faith – on the screen – together.
Communion Prayer
Leader: … in remembrance of Your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith together:
All: Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.
Expedition Song – Precious Lord / Just a Closer Walk with Thee! …. sung by Lilly Haeger & Dick McCarter (our suggestion is no congregational singing, but if you’re wearing your masks appropriately, who would know who is singing?).
Next Sunday, like we did today – please RSVP to us if you plan to attend so we can properly set up – and please CALL IN or email or text – so we can share with you what the plans will be – whether we will be allowed to continue to meet or not.
We close with this benediction: Friends –
may we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,
becoming more faithful with each passing day of struggle and victory,
with each encounter with the Holy Spirit,
giving glory to God today and forever!
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