The Story for the
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
February 7, 2021

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Mark 1:29-39

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.  

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Something to Do

The whole city gathered around the door

Our city – and everyone’s city – is in desperate need of healing. Stand on the doorstep of your home or your apartment building and hold the city up in prayer. Use these words or find or your own or simple stand in silent love.

Lord Jesus Christ, you looked with compassion on all who came to you. Send your Spirit on this city and fill it with your peace. Strengthen the healers, comfort the sorrowful, soothe the sick, raise up the weary, and free us from all fear. Amen.

Everyone is searching for you

Go on a hunt for Jesus this week. Find him in the workers doing their jobs under difficult circumstances; in the masked faces on the street; in caregivers; in people receiving care; in people sitting on sidewalks as others walk by; in the people who share your life most intimately.

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Something to Wonder

In the morning, while it was still dark

Imagine yourself into Jesus’ head. Mark is describing the early days (weeks?) of his public ministry. He has come back from his time of testing in the wilderness, gathered his first four disciples and seems to have become very well-known very quickly. Seekers – for teaching, for healing, for salvation – have come from all over.

And now Jesus has gotten up while it was still dark and slipped out on his own. Why was he up so early – was he unable to sleep or did he set a 1st century alarm or was he just an early riser? How was he feeling? What did he say to God during that quiet time?

Consider taking the time to actually write your thoughts down.

Let us go on to the neighbouring towns

Although most of us don’t live on the road the way Jesus did during his teaching ministry, many of us have lived in a variety of places – whether different towns and cities or simply different neighbourhoods.

How would you tell the story of your faith through those places. What did God teach you in each place? What opportunities for serving God did you find? What questions were raised for you? How was the kingdom revealed? How do you continue to carry each place with you?

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Something to Learn

Praying the Hours

The Liturgy of the Hours is a daily pattern of prayer that marks the passing of the day though 7 times of prayer – sanctifying the whole day and infusing it with prayer.

Vigils (Midnight or later)          Waiting and reverie
Lauds (4-5 am or daybreak)     Waking
Prime (6 am)                            Beginning
Terce (9 am)                             Doing
Sext (Noon)                              Pausing
None (3 pm)                             Doing
Vespers (Sunset)                      Ending
Compline (Bedtime)                 Surrendering

Learn more about this ancient practice and ways to incorporate it into your own prayer practice.

Praying the Hours: Reclaiming my time

Explore the Divine Hours: a complete guide to the ancient practice of fixed-hour prayer

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Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

The Story for the
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
January 31, 2021

prepared by the Rev’d Adam Brown

Mark 1:21-28

The Man with an Unclean Spirit

²¹ They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. ²² They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, ²⁴ and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

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Something to Do

“Be silent”

Sometimes the anxieties and depression and all the other negative unhealthy stuff in our minds overwhelms us without us even realizing it. Take a moment to be quiet for a bit. Identify all the layers of how you’re feeling, why you’re feeling them, and then let them go with a deep breath.

Declutter

Take a moment to find a corner of your house gathering dust or clutter and tidy it up. When you’re finished take a moment to feel good about how good it looks.

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Something to Wonder

Societal unclean spirits

What are some “unclean spirits” plaguing our society (Globally? Nationally? Locally?) and notice how education and dialogue often make no room for these unclean spirits anymore. How will you educate yourself and grow in empathy and understanding?

“Have you come to destroy us?”

Notice how the unclean spirit asked if Jesus came to destroy him. Rather than choosing the path of destruction Jesus told the unclean spirit to simply be quiet and leave – that it was no longer welcome here. How might that inform how we personally deal with things, people, or events that trouble us?

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Something to Learn

The Immovable Ladder

The Rev’d Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a monumental advocate for striving for social change through the use of nonviolence.

You can read more about his journey to nonviolence, as well as his practical and theological thoughts on it, here: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/nonviolence/

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Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.