Wesley Word – March 8, 2023

Carolyn Lemaster   -   March 8, 2023

To go along with service on Sunday, March 12, 2023

Experiencing Grace

Exploring Truth – 

Conversations With Jesus: Conversation With The Woman At The Well

John 4:5-42

Our Lenten sermon series this year is Conversations With Jesus. On the First Sunday in Lent, we talked about Jesus’ conversation with the Devil during his temptation in the wilderness. Last week, we looked at Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. This week, we are going to drop in on Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well.

The woman is not named, but here is what we know about her… First, she was a woman, obviously. That is important because Jesus, as a Jewish rabbi, would rarely, if ever, have a one-on-one conversation with a woman, especially about theological matters. Second, she was a Samaritan. Samaritans were, in the eyes of Jewish people, racial and religious half-breeds. The Jews hated the Samaritans, and the Samaritans hated the Jews right back. Third, she had been married and divorced five times and was now living with a man to whom she was not married. If you are keeping track, that’s strike three. Given all of that, you can imagine her surprise when Jesus spoke to her at all, much less, kindly.

At first, she tries to divert the attention from herself and engage Jesus in a theological debate. Jesus deflects all of that and gets right to the heart of the matter. What she needs is what only Jesus can offer. No matter who we are, no matter what we have done, Jesus loves us and offers all of us the gift of living water.

 

New Testament in a Year: https://wesleyonline.org/biblereading/

  • March 8               Mark 14:1-21
  • March 9               Mark 14:22-52
  • March 10             Mark 14:53-72
  • March 11             Mark 15:1-47
  • March 12             Mark 16:1-20
  • March 13             Luke 1:1-25
  • March 14             Luke 1:26-56
  • March 15             Luke 1:57-80

 

Expressing Love: Family/Mission Activity

March is Women’s History Month. This national celebration began in 1987 to draw special attention to the contribution of women to events in history and modern society. The theme this year is: Celebrating Women who tell our stories. How fitting that we will be talking about the story of the woman at the well. After her interaction with Jesus, she went out and told this story to as many people as she could. As Christians, we are called to follow Jesus’ example and reach out to those who are rejected or cast out by others. We need to recognize our individual prejudices and change our mindset in order to accept all people as God’s children in need of God’s love and grace. This awareness provides the motivation to cross over the lines that divide us and interact with those who are often excluded. Finally, we should not be afraid to do what is right, even when it means pushing the boundaries of social norms. Jesus was intentional about interacting with and helping the outcasts, and we are charged to do the same today.

This week let’s think about who goes unnoticed in your life, and how can we intentionally make sure these people are noticed?

“A stranger is just a friend you have not made yet.”

 

Announcements

  • WOW (Wesley on Wednesdays) 6:00 pm.
  • Men’s Lenten Breakfast – United Methodist Churches in the area are hosting a series of breakfasts for Men during Lent each Saturday at 8am.
    • March 11th @ Sweetland UMC
    • March 18th @ Wesley UMC
    • March 25 @ Spangler Chapel UMC
    • April 1 TBD
  • Daylight Saving Time Begins this Sunday, March 12. Change your clock ahead one hour!
  • Lenten Taizé Services – Sunday evenings during Lent at 5:15pm in the chapel March 12, 19, 26, and April 2.
  • Pickle Ball!  Come on Tuesdays 11:00-12:30 on March 21, 28 and April 4 in the Wesley Family Life Center. We will practice and play a game. Call Mary, 563-299-7050, if interested.
  • Muscatine County Habitat for Humanity Annual Soup & Sandwich Lunch – Sunday, March 26, 11:00am-1:00pm at Wesley Church. $5.00.  Learn about Habitat for Humanity and meet the newest partner family.
  • Children’s program– Join us on March 26th at 10:00am for a Lenten play presented by the children of Wesley!
  • Palm Sunday Breakfast— 8:00-11:00 am. We’ll serve pancakes, scrambled eggs with sausage (both pork and turkey), fruit, juice, and coffee. The cost is by donation. Money received will go towards the planned trip for our youth this summer. Please sign up to donate food items for this special event. Sign-up forms are located on the tables at the rear of the sanctuary. The HOM Team

 

Holy Week Schedule

Palm Sunday, April 2
8:00-11:00am     Pancake Breakfast
8:00am                Chapel Service
9:00am                Celebration Service
10:00am              Sunday School Classes
11:00am              Traditional Service
5:15 pm               Taizé Service

Maundy Thursday Service, April 6 @ 7:00 pm

Good Friday Service, April 7 @ 7:00 pm

Easter, April 9
8:00am          Chapel Service
9:00am          Celebration Service
11:00am        Traditional Service