Special Service for February 7th 2010
Grace and peace to you, brothers and sisters in Christ.
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Although we may be separated by snowy roads, we are one in the Spirit. I invite you all to carve out some time (about 20-30 minutes) to walk through this order or worship.
A few announcements as we begin:
1. We will have the special offering for the Ashley Walton Fund at our first regular attendance Sunday following the snow.
2. Please mark your calendars for a joint fundraiser of the UMW and Men's Group to support the church budget: It's a pork loin dinner. Tickets are $10/ person for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. The date is March 6th, 6 p.m.
3. The Valentine's Breakfast sponsored by the Men's Group is at 8 a.m. on February 13th.
4. A special thank you for your generous support of the ministry of Mt. Moriah Church. Please know that the expenses for the church continue despite breaks in our worship caused by the weather. Your continued support of the church and it's ministry during these winter months is both needed and appreciated.
Now, let's worship:
Today's scripture and reflection center, in part, on Simon Peter and the events that led up to him leaving his fishing boat behind in order to follow Jesus and "fish for people." With this in mind, we begin with a song called, "Something Big" by John Waller. Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HiS-Aj2-7U
The scripture lesson today is Luke 5: 1-11. Please read this scripture through one time. Then, read through it again, slowly. Invite the Spirit to let one
word stand out to you. Then spend 3-5 minutes in silent reflection on that word. (If your attention drifts, that is normal. Just bring yourself back to the
word as gently as a feather would land on a pillow.)
The lesson: Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two
boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging
to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking,
he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have
caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.
So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when
Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" For he and all who were with him were
amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said
to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed
him.
Reflection:
When I read through this scripture, I wondered what it was that Jesus was teaching the crowd. That's why he was in the boat . . . he was teaching, and
somehow the catch of fish showed the crowds something important about what Jesus was trying to say. Yet, pausing over the text with the Spirit
brought out the word "worked" to me.
Jesus was teaching. Meanwhile the fishermen were cleaning their nets. They were done for the day. Then Jesus got into one of the boats and asked
Peter to put out from shore again . . . to lower his nets again. Peter said, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing . . . " Peter
and the crew were done for the day. They'd thrown in the towel. But Jesus told them to try again, and they did . . . and the catch of fish was breath-
taking . . . even frightening! The boats fairly sunk with fish. Jesus reassured Peter, and then said, "from now on you will be catching people."
Think about your own work . . . the things that you've done again and again. The time and the energy. The times when you hang it up because the day
is done. There are times when we are sure that our work is done. How would we react if we were asked to do our work again . . . Making one
more call, one more visit, one more look over things, one more meeting, one more attempt to get the kids to eat peas, one more check for that lost
item, one more lesson, one more . . . To do it again, when we're sure we're done, when we know nothing more can come of our efforts . . .
Peter tried one more time . . . and he didn't just catch fish in the nets . . . he was working side by side with Jesus--who was teaching the people, who
was catching people. Peter did a familiar job for the 1,000th time, and Jesus transformed his whole life's work . . . something big happened!
This week, consider: What is God asking you to do again? How can you be open to the new thing God might be doing? Can you imagine God using a
familiar, repetitive part of your life's work to bring you to a completely new place and new work with Jesus?
Prayer: Please take some time to remember the joys and concerns that you are aware of in your family and community. Please remember those
on our prayer list: Willie Kidd and Brock Marks; Carolyn Batten; Lily Grace Brookman; Mary Humphrey;
Conrad Hicks; Donnie Robinson; Mary Sheridan; Lavelle McCauley; Ashley Walton; Johhana Drumheller;
Ruth Gibson; Helen Graves; Betty Jo Bruce; Jean Blencowe; Ralph Price; Madeline Fix; Ricky Pugh;
Jack Sanchez; John McCauley; Peggy Marks; Matthew Grover; Patty Saul
Benediction:
Be safe this week. Go in love, sharing God's peace with all you meet.