This is part of the worship series,
"Grief Over Injustice, Hope for Wholeness”
Introduction
Lent 1 | Lent 2 | Lent 3 | Lent 4 | Lent 5
Palm/Passion Sunday | Good Friday | Easter Sunday
Week 4: Domestic Violence & Misogyny
In preparing to write this sermon addressing the injustices of misogyny and domestic abuse, I came across this pivotal quote from Beth Allison Barr “Isn’t it ironic (not to mention tiresome) that we spend so much time fighting to make Christianity look like the world around us instead of fighting to make it look like Jesus Christ? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?...Patriarchy may be a part of Christian history, but that doesn’t make it Christian.” (Barr, The Making of Biblical Womanhood, 2021, p. 37.) Our text, Mark 5:28–38 shows an interaction between Jesus and a woman who had been bleeding for years, and it reveals the woman’s determination to touch Jesus’ garment with the expectation of being healed. Jesus’ response to her is wholly unexpected, and his kindness is radically different from what might be expected in the culture of the time. Using material from the Christian Reformed Church of North America’s Safe Church Ministry (recently renamed “Thrive: Safer Churches”), we looked at the reality of sinfulness that continues to allow misogyny and domestic abuse to quietly flourish even in our own homes and in communities where we invite women, men, and children to find a safe space to dialogue about their own experiences.
GATHERING
Welcome
Call to Worship
In the midst of a world where people hunger and thirst . . .
come worship a God who feeds the hungry.
In the midst of a world where people are abused and oppressed . . .
come worship a God who calls for compassion and justice.
In the midst of a world filled with wars and rumors of war . . .
come worship a God who desires nothing less than peace for the world.
In the midst of a world of spiritual emptiness . . .
come worship a God who gives life meaning.
Come worship a God whose grace and love know no end.
—Miriam Lawrence Leupold, from Sacraments and Seasons: Peacemaking Through Worship III, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program © 2001 The PC(USA) Store.
God Greets Us
God’s People Greet Each Other
Songs
“How Great Is Our God” Tomlin et al.
“Way Maker” Egbu
RENEWAL
Call to Confession
Paul writes, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26, NRSV). When abuse occurs, it is a community issue. When someone views another as lesser, it is a community issue. When prejudice exists, it is a community issue. It can feel easier for us to hold these issues of justice at arm’s length and say, “Well, that doesn’t happen here.” When it comes to domestic violence, statistics show no difference between church members and secular society.
Though we are the body of Christ, we are not immune to committing injustices. We confess our complicity before God and each other in the promise of Christ’s forgiveness and grace.
Prayer of Confession
Holy and merciful God,
you made us all in your image
and called us your beloved children.
You call us to care for one another,
to submit to one another,
to look out for and love one another.
We confess that we are not always faithful in fulfilling our calling.
We remain silent when we hear offensive or belittling comments.
We make sweeping judgments about people of different genders or sexualities,
and we let our own biases blind us from seeing others as they truly are:
beloved children and image bearers of God.
Forgive us, Lord, and help us to speak up when we witness injustice.
Amen.
Song
“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” Watts
Assurance of Pardon
“(Jesus) said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12, NIV).
Song
“My Lighthouse” Llewellyn and Gilkeson
Children are dismissed for Children’s Worship.
WORD
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture
Mark 5:25–34
Message
“He Said / She Said”
Song of Response
“How Long, O Lord, How Long” (st. 1, 5, 7, 8) Steumpfle
Prayers of the People
We Give Our Offerings of Thanks
SENDING
God’s Parting Blessing
Song
“At the Cross (Love Ran Red)” Tomlin et al.
