Sunday, February 28, 2021 - Living through Grief
Theme - Preparing to Dance: Living through Grief
Prayer
Genesis 37:1-4 Common English Bible Translation
Jacob lived in the land of Canaan where his father was an immigrant. This is the account of Jacob’s descendants. Joseph was 17 years old and tended the flock with his brothers. While he was helping the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives, Joseph told their father unflattering things about them. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was born when Jacob was old. Jacob had made for him a long robe. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of his brothers, they hated him and couldn’t even talk nicely to him. (Question: Have you ever been jealous of someone or a situation? Why?)
Genesis 37:5-8
Joseph had a dream and told it to his brothers, which made them hate him even more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had. When we were binding stalks of grain in the field, my stalk got up and stood upright, while your stalks gathered around it and bowed down to my stalk.” His brothers said to him, “Will you really be our king and rule over us?” So they hated him even more because of the dreams he told them. (Question: Have you ever felt like you weren’t living up to a particular standard? Why?)
Genesis 37:12-13, 18-22
Joseph’s brothers went to tend their father’s flocks near Shechem. Israel said to Joseph, “Aren’t your brothers tending the sheep near Shechem? Come, I’ll send you to them.” And he said, “I’m ready.” They saw Joseph in the distance before he got close to them, and they plotted to kill him. The brothers said to each other, “Here comes the big dreamer. Come on now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns, and we’ll say a wild animal devoured him. Then he will see what becomes of his dreams!” When Reuben heard what they said, he saved him from them, telling them, “Let’s not take his life.” Reuben said to them, “Don’t spill his blood! Throw him into this desert cistern, but don’t lay a hand on him.” He intended to save Joseph from them and take him back to his father. (Question: What actions do you regret? Why?)
Genesis 37:29-35
When Reuben returned to the cistern and found that Joseph wasn’t in it, he tore his clothes. Then he returned to his brothers and said, “The boy’s gone! And I – where can I go now?” His brothers took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the robe in the blood. They took the long robe, brought it to their father, and said, “We found this. See if it’s your son’s robe or not.” He recognized it and said, “It’s my son’s robe! A wild animal has devoured him. Joseph must have been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his clothes, put a simple mourning cloth around his waist, and mourned for his son for many days. All of his sons and daughters got up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted, telling them, “I’ll go to my grave mourning for my son.” And Joseph’s father wept for him. (Question: What are the ways you’ve experienced grief outside of losing someone you love?)
Genesis 45:16-18a, 25-28
When Pharaoh’s household heard the message “Joseph’s brothers have arrived,” both Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Give your brothers these instructions: Load your pack animals and go back to the land of Canaan. Get your father and your households and come back to me. So they left Egypt and returned to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. They announced to him, “Joseph’s still alive! He’s actually ruler of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob’s heart nearly failed, and he didn’t believe them. When they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, Jacob recovered. Then Israel said, “This is too much! My son Joseph is still alive! Let me go and see him before I die.” (Question: What are some ways your grief through life has changed you?)
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer
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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen
Blessing
Song List
My Life Flows On – 821 GTG
There Is a Place of Quiet Rest – 824 GTG
Just a Closer Walk with Thee – 835 GTG
When Peace like a River – 840 GTG
Quote by David Kessler
“Each person’s grief is as unique as their fingerprint. But what everyone has in common is that no matter how they grieve, they share a need for their grief to be witnessed. That doesn’t mean needing someone to try to lessen it or reframe it for them. The need is for someone to be fully present to the magnitude of their loss without trying to point out the silver lining.”
Guiding Scripture for Lent
Psalm 30:11-12
“You changed my mourning into dancing.
You took off my funeral clothes
and dressed me up in joy
so that my whole being
might sing praises to you and never stop.
Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Practices to Focus upon During this Season of Lent and Beyond
Prayer – setting a time/alarm twice a day pray/converse with God
-Being open about struggles
-Talking to God about those we love
-Opening ourselves up to following God’s guidance and wisdom
Picking a book in the Bible. Reading a few verses every day.
-Asking questions, noting new insights
-Possible books: Ruth, Proverbs, Mark, Philippians, Colossians
Consuming something every day that helps one to thrive
-Books, Media, Music, Art, Conversations, Podcast, Exercise, Eating habits, etc.…
Checking in with different people every day
-Focusing on cultivating connections
Meditation – Silence
-Taking a few minutes every day to be silent
Lenten Series: Preparing to Dance February 21st – March 28th
Feb 28th – Living through Grief
Mar 7th – A Healing Perspective
Mar 14th – Navigating the Uncomfortable
Mar 21st – Building, Rebuilding, Living Our Lives
Mar 28th – Confidence that We can Dance