February 12 Sixth after Epiphany
2 Kings 5:114
Commander Naaman is healed of leprosy by Elisha.
Psalm 30 (VU p. 757)
Tears flow for a night; joy comes with the morning.
1 Corinthians 9:2427
Run the race to win the imperishable prize.
Mark 1:4045
A leper begs to be healed and proclaims the news.
Spark
It is Valentines Day this week. Include a passing of the peace during the service, only instead of shaking hands, have small heart stickers available for everyone, and have the people in the congregation put a heart sticker on their neighbours hand. Ask them to offer one another the love of God through the words God loves you or Jesus loves you. Make sure to include babies, children, youth, the choir, lay leaders, and ordered ministerial leaders.
Theme Engagement Question
What would healing mean in your life today? When have you experienced healing?
With Children
Talk about the disease of leprosy and how people with this disease were treated by others in biblical times. Then share how even up to the first part of the 20th century (when medicine for leprosy was finally discovered) lepers were secluded and ostracized. Talk about Father Damien, who was called to live amongst quarantined lepers. Did you know that DArcy Island in British Columbia was a Canadian leper colony until 1924 when the federal government shut it down? Talk about the people in the world who study medical advances. Talk about God working through people such as doctors, nurses, scientific researchers, and other medical practitioners to bring healing.
Sermon Starter
Read the story of Naaman carefully. Note that the individuals who bring healing in this story are not those in positions of power or wealth such as the King of Aram, or the King of Israel, or the prophet Elijah, but the two servants in the story: the servant girl of Naamans wife and the servant who meets Naaman (and tells him to go and wash) at the end of his journey. God works in humble places and through humble people to do Gods work and bring in the kingdom. (Refer to other examples both in history and in present-day events.) God chose Jesus, one of very humble beginnings, to serve and be servant of all.
Hymns
Hebrew Scripture
VU 613 We cannot measure how you heal
VU 619 Healer of our every ill
Psalm
VU 166 Joy comes with the dawn
Epistle
VU 674 Fight the good fight
General
VU 371 Open my eyes, that I may see
VU 395 Come in, come in and sit down
VU 625 I feel the winds of God
VU 636 Give to the winds your fears
MV 74 When painful memries haunt
MV 90 Dont be afraid
MV 96 And when you call for me
MV 156 Dance with the Spirit
MV 187 We give our thanks