Tag: Samaritan Woman

Woman at the Well

Signs of God: Jesus Meets You Where You Are

Psalm 42:1-3

John 4:1-42

Call to Worship

Come as You are

Jesus will meet you

Come all you who thirst

For God will provide you the waters of everlasting life

Call to Confession: God, I confess that sometimes I am like the woman at the well. Not knowing what it is I am thirsty for, but knowing that I am in need of more, thirsty for something. Please help me when I am lonely or unsatisfied. Provide me with that which I really need, so I am not distracted by wants or wishes, but may instead focus in on that which is really important I pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon. Jesus promises salvation to all who ask, know the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God help us to follow the ways of grace, so that we might further journey on the path that we need to take we pray in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hymns: What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, We Meet You O Christ, Help Us Accept Each Other, More Love to Thee O Christ, They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love

With Children: Talk about how Samaria and Israel were fighting siblings: Very similar but had different customs and so they wouldn’t talk to one another so it was very unusual for Jesus to talk to anyone from Samaria, much less a woman. Indicate how Jesus meets everyone where they are–by a well, up a tree, eventually on a cross. Discuss all the funny places Jesus might meet people if he was walking around today

Psstt….Meet me at the well…..

Once when I was working as a Children’s Coordinator the pastor told me that I really needed to try to look bored more often….

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This was a great point in fact, because I love to be busy (I guess I’m in a good profession for that).

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The Pastor then told me the story of Jesus at the well. He told me to think about not only Jesus’ ministry of presence but also his ministry of waiting. There he was, waiting at the well, for someone who needed water to come….and thus a friendship was born.

Image4Now he had to go through Samaria.So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the townto buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”–John 4:

Hearing from the moderator today, he noted that he is making a point to be present (either himself or the vice moderator) at the committee meetings…a strong choice for presence, and one that echoed the hard questions given to him on the floor.

It took four votes to elect our moderator (the youth/seminary advisory board loved him). There seemed to be some dispute because he is abiding by the letter of the law regarding gay marriage, meanwhile his running mate signed a marriage license in her state during their campaign.His response to this was that he wasn’t going to put aside 10 years of friendship over a difference of opinion. i.e. part of being friends means being present for one another–choosing to be present even when our choices differ.

During the Hymn Sing at GA we sang “Go to the World” the final verse is

“Go into the world! Go as the ones I send, for I am with you ’til the age shall end, When all the hosts of glory cry Amen!”

What a friend we have in Jesus, who promises to be present no matter what we do.

So here I am, present at GA. On the one hand I’m not “Doing” much, I have little to no agenda about the meetings, and have not been commissioned, chosen or asked to do anything.

On the other hand, I am here, I am present. I am witnessing the work we are doing, praying for all of us who are doing it, and keeping my eyes and ears open for the Holy Spirit. I have waited, hoped, and possibly even made some new friends

Guess I made it to the well Pastor Kevin! (at least for GA)Image