10-10:10 Quiet Reflection

Job 2:11-13

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads. They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Commentary on Job 2:11-13 By Rev. Remington Johnson

In Job, we have a person who has suffered extreme trauma—the trauma of losing his livelihood where his present and future wellbeing are very much in question. In a year of record unemployment and underemployment, financial traumas are all around us. These are very real and impact every aspect of a person’s life. A scarcity mindset can creep in, causing every decision to be skewed and suspect, making even the most mundane of daily decisions challenging. Job has also seen his children die a sudden, unexpected death. The loss of a loved one, no matter the circumstances, will also impact us, but the impact can be so much sharper when it is unexpected and untimely. Job has suffered physical pain and discomfort—pain that must have seeped deep into his bones. This is very real trauma. His friends hear of his traumas and head to see him. They offer solidarity in very specific ways. Initially, they react with the proper level of emotion. They match the amplitude of the situation. They are feeling with Job, and by weeping aloud and tearing their robes are offering Job an outward manifestation that his traumas are indeed very real and worthy of the feelings of the moment. We each have different ways of reacting to trauma and grief. In the church I was raised in, the parishioners would fill the refrigerator of the one in trauma with casseroles. A few folks would descend on a home and clean it top to bottom. It was their way of tearing their clothes and rubbing ashes on themselves. Later, Job’s friends sit with him for days and witness with their very presence the incredible weight of the trauma. Often, we are able to demonstrate our outrage, surprise, grief, and all the rest when we see someone hurting, but we can miss following that up with tangible signs of solidarity. Job’s friends do this well. How can we show up for one another in ways that both explicitly show that we see the pain of the moment and also that we are not afraid to sit with someone in this pain? During healthcare chaplain training, one of my supervisors would use the analogy of a person at the bottom of a hole. Our job was not to offer them a rescue line and attempt to pull them out, but to descend into the hole to bear witness to their reality and be with them. This being with one another is incarnational. It is a sacred act. Every Sunday, we do this. We come together and do this. We witness one another’s existence, traumas, needs, and spend time together. Sacred space and sacred time.

—Rev. Remington Johnson, Healthcare chaplain & masters in nursing candidate

Questions:

I wonder what Job needed?

I wonder how Job’s friends knew what he needed?

I wonder where God was in Job’s need?

I wonder if you’ve ever needed anything like that?

I wonder what you need?

I wonder what you need to feel seen and loved?

I wonder what you need to feel whole?

I wonder what your body needs to be safe, nourished, whole, rested?

I wonder what you need from the people at this table?

I wonder what you need from God?

I wonder if there’s ever been a time where you have felt that your needs have been met in a sacred way?

I wonder how that made you feel?

I wonder how you hope that might happen again?

Consider writing a Haiku about what you need.

Line 1: 5 syllables about what you need (ie More hands lighten load)

Line 2: 7 syllables about what having that need met might mean/feel/look like (ie Breathing deep, resting in care)

Line 3: 5 syllables to God (Can they be Your hands?)

Land Acknowledgement 01 land recognition.png

Since today is a special moment, I'd love to take time to express our thanks for the land on which we live and play. An important part of the land on which we each live is the history of that land and the history of who has cared for the land before us.

We are in Seattle. Seattle is named after the leader of the Duwamish people. This land was and is home to the Duwamish and Coastal Salish people. It was taken from them and is still being colonized.

As we live on this land and have special, sacred moments on this land, it is important that we commit to learning about and from the Duwamish and Coastal Salish people, past, present, and future. And to following their leadership in the gentle and loving care of the land.

Getting Ready/Building the Circle 03 getting ready.png

Gathering Song: Be still and know that I am God (3x) opening song.png

  D                                   A7    D

Be still and know that I am God,

                        G            E7    A

Be still and know that I am God,

  D                                   A     D

Be still and know that I am God.

Scripture: 06 story.png

Job 2:11-13

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads. They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Sacred Story: story.jpg

A long time ago, there was a very good, kind, loving man named Job. He had so many things and so many people who loved him. His life was wonderful.

Then, little by little, bad things started happening to him. He lost his things. He lost his loved ones. He lost his health. His body and his heart ached.

Job was very sad and very confused. Job was alone.

One time, his friends saw him, sad and alone.

Sometimes they tried to give him advice and tell him what to do.

Sometimes they tried to explain why this all happened.

Sometimes they tried to soothe him with words, but the words didn’t heal his pain.

But one time, they saw how sad he was, and they sat with him in his sadness.

In everytime, there are good, kind, loving people. Often, they don’t have many things. Often, they don’t have enough or any loved ones. Often bad things happen. Often their bodies are hurt. Often their feelings or hearts are hurt.

Sometimes people see other sad people.

Sometimes they try to give advice and tell people what to do.

Sometimes they try to explain what happened.

Sometimes they try to soothe the person with words, but the words aren’t healing.

Sometimes, too many times, they look away from the pain and pretend it’s not there.

That’s not usually what sad people need.

Sometimes, we remember to ask people what they need.

And sometimes we listen.

And sometimes, we just see that people need us to just be with them in whatever they are feeling.

Sometimes, we pay attention to what people need.

Sometimes people pay attention to what we need.

Sometimes we’re brave enough to ask for what we need.

And sometimes, we find God’s Spirit living and breathing in the midst of us when we give what others need and receive what we need.

Wondering: 07 wondering.png

Wondering Round 1: You’ll have 10 minutes at your first table to wonder together. Then we’ll move to another table and have 10 minutes to wonder together again.

I wonder what Job needed?

I wonder how Job’s friends knew what he needed?

I wonder where God was in Job’s need?

I wonder if you’ve ever needed anything like that?

I wonder what you need?

I wonder what you need to feel seen and loved?

I wonder what you need to feel whole?

I wonder what your body needs to be safe, nourished, whole, rested?

I wonder what you need from the people at this table?

I wonder what you need from God?

I wonder if there’s ever been a time where you have felt that your needs have been met in a sacred way?

I wonder how that made you feel?

I wonder how you hope that might happen again?

Work: 08 response.png

Prayer Wall

Play “All Belong Here” by the Many

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1phSh-9Bs0

Invite participants to reflect and pray.

Play the song, “All Belong Here” by The Many while they respond to reflection prompts.

We invite you into a time of prayer and reflection.

There are note cards and pens on your table.

As you feel comfortable, write, draw, or doodle your prayers on the paper.

The idea is to share these on a prayer wall, to keep that in mind if there are things you’d like to keep between you and the Eternal One.

Prayer card 1—What made you feel connected in your conversation?

Prayer card 2—What is something you learned about yourself or a person at one of your tables? (leave out names)

Prayer card 3 - What would you like us to pray for as a community today? These will be read aloud, so if you’d like it to be general and anonymous, leave out names and details. If you want to be known in the prayer, be sure to include your name.

When you are done, come and add these to our prayer wall, or ask a table-mate to add them for you.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer 10 prayer.png

One: In Your Loving Name

Many: Hear our prayer

Lord’s Prayer (Call and Response)

Creator // Creator

In heaven // In heaven

Sacred is //  Sacred is

Your name // Your name.

Your kin-dom come // Your kin-dom come,

Your will be done // Your will be done,

On earth as it is // On earth as it is

 In heaven // In heaven.

Give us this day // Give us this day

Our daily bread // Our daily bread,

And forgive us // And forgive us

As we forgive others // As we forgive others.

And lead us not // And lead us not

Into temptation // Into temptation

Unison: But liberate the family of Creation. 

For Yours is the kin-dom, the power and the glory //
For Yours is the kin-dom, the power and the glory,

Unison: For Yours is the kin-dom, the power and the glory,

Forever, Amen. // Forever, Amen.

For Yours // For Yours

Is the love // Is the love

And liberation // And liberation

Forever, Amen. // Unison: Forever, Amen.

Passing of the Peace        peace.jpg

The Feast:table.jpg        

Words of Institution:

Sometimes, we have a special cloth on the table to remind us that this is a very special meal. Sometimes, we leave the special cloth folded up so that we can begin the meal by opening it up. And as we unfold it and it gets bigger and bigger and bigger, we remember that this table, where we remember Christ, is always getting bigger and bigger and bigger and there is always a way to make room for more.

A long time ago, there was someone very special. They said many wonderful things and did many wonderful things and people became curious about that person. A group of people became friends with Christ. They learned from Christ and lived with Christ.

One night, they shared an important meal.

Christ took the bread. Gave thanks for it. Blessed it. Broke it. And shared it with everyone saying: This bread is me. This bread is for you. This bread is for everyone. Take and eat it and remember my love.

Then Christ took the cup. Gave thanks for it. Blessed it. And shared it with everyone saying: This cup is me. This cup is for you. This cup is for everyone. Take and eat it and remember my love.

And Christ asked us to share this feast every time we gather. All are welcome. Come and receive.

Communion Hymn: God Bless To Us This Bread

        God bless to us this bread

        And give food to those who are hungry

        And hunger for justice to those who are fed

        God bless to us this bread

Sending: Go Now in Peace closing song.jpg

        Go now in peace, go now in peace

        May the love of God surround you

        Everywhere, everywhere you may go.

G               D7               G                 D7

Go now in peace, go now in peace,

G             D7      G                 D7

May the love of God surround you

G         D7    G         D7

everywhere, everywhere,

G    D7   G   D7

you may go.