September 6th Virtual Worship

September 6, 2020 Pastor Marc Hayden

The Order of Worship

Music Ministry Team: Kristin Petty, Dwight Huntley, Matthew Leone, Rene Vazquez

Worship Team: Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden

Technology Team: Michael Kendall, Mark Raker, Jerry Weissinger

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Key Notes from the reading & sermon:

From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

If we listen carefully to Matthew’s telling of the crucifixion, letting go of preconceived notions of what the cross means, we might discover less about transaction and more about transformation.

Questions for Reflection:

According to Matthew, the only words Jesus speaks on the cross are a quote from Psalm 22. Please read and reflect on the entirety of Psalm 22.

What does Jesus’ use of this psalm on the cross suggest about his relationship with God?
Can you relate to Jesus’ cry of lament?
Can one feel abandoned by God and still trust God?
How do you hold together the tension between the experience of the absence and the presence of God?
What practices in our community of faith help bridge that gap?
What is the comfort and assurance you have to offer to others feeling forsaken?