Home Worshipping 

Trinity 4                       27th June 2021

The Service

The above video is 27 minutes & 28 seconds long
The First Hymn

Bible Reading

Mark 5:21-43 (Jesus, the healer.)

 

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered round him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.’ So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed round him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realised that power had gone out from him. He turned round in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ ‘You see the people crowding against you,’ his disciples answered, ‘and yet you can ask, “Who touched me?”’ But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.’ While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ they said. ‘Why bother the teacher anymore?’ Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Thought for the Day

Before we look at the miracle stories in today’s Gospel reading, I would like to take you on a bit of a wander.

When I was young I used to enjoy going to the newsagent to buy comics about super-heroes. My favourite was Batman. These fantasy characters are still entertaining us. Only a few days ago Wonder Woman was on the television, saving the world. Now here’s a question for you: How well do you know the film categories? Do you know the difference between Fantasy and Science Fiction? 
Science Fiction is about imagining developments in science way beyond what is possible today. Such films include amazing gadgetry although the operators are usually as human as we are today. Fantasy films, on the other hand, are more about magic and the supernatural where certain individuals have fantastic powers…unlike you and me!

How would we classify a film about the miracles of Jesus? Before you shout out: ‘Religious!’, let me make the question more difficult. Supposing we had to classify this film as either Science Fiction or Fantasy. Which one would we - should we - go for? Maybe you don’t want to play this game. Maybe you think it’s disrespectful to treat Jesus like this. But what if some wise-guy pipes up and says, ‘It depends which miracles were in the film’? Our curiosity might keep us in the conversation. 
Please don’t get me wrong when I say that some of Jesus’ miracles are pure fantasy. I don’t mean they weren’t real. They definitely happened, but it is just that the only way to understand them is to see Jesus as exercising supernatural powers. Walking on water would be an obvious example. But then there are other miracles that are more Science Fiction. By this I mean that it might be possible that Jesus was using knowledge and abilities that we don’t possess at the moment, but one day we will understand them and be more open to them. In this category we might want to put the miracles that were the result of faith. It makes us wonder if we have hidden abilities that we have yet to find and explore. 

How did Jesus raise Jairus’ daughter? Everyone thought the girl was dead, but Jesus said she was just asleep. Did Jesus use supernatural powers, or was he the master of hidden, but very human, abilities? 
Whatever our thoughts on the miracles, what is easy to see is that Jesus was, and is, the ‘go to’ person when we are looking for help with our deepest needs. 

Let us Pray

Lord God, your love is steadfast and never ends; our weeping may linger through the night, but you give joy in the morning. Touch us with your healing grace that, restored to wholeness, we may live out our calling as your people. Amen.

Bless all who work in stressful situations; healthcare, teaching, law enforcement, social services and other occupations where patience, love and perseverance can wear thin, and daily stress levels rise. Keep them safe and keep them well, equipped to follow their vocation through the most difficult of times. And at the end of their day, grant rest. Amen.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.)
The Blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.


Amen.

 The Second Hymn

Bible Readings for the Week

Monday: Leviticus 21:1-15; 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

Tuesday: Leviticus 15:19-31; 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

Wednesday: 2 Kings 20:1-11; Mark 9:14-29

Thursday: Jeremiah 7:1-15; 1 Corinthians 4:8-13

Friday: Jeremiah 7:16-26; 2 Corinthians 10:7-11

Saturday: Jeremiah 7:27-34; Matthew 8:18-22