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Widows Group FIRST MEETING 6/9/15

Introduction: Welcome, to all from Advent Lutheran Church. I am Pastor Porter and our gracious host is Sally Coates. We would both like to welcome all the widows and we are happy that you have decided to investigate our group.

Let us pray,

Prayer: Holy Father,

We thank you for gathering us here in this home. As your Son comforted the widow at Nain, Be present with us in the power of your Word and Spirit, and comfort those who mourn. Give us knowledge of your special and continuing care for widows, and enable your church to practice true religion, which visits and serves them in their affliction.

We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.

Principles/background – My role: Lutheran, Initiator, facilitator, support person.

Introductions?

Spiritual: undergoing the loss of a husband as a Baptized child of God.

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Scriptural foundations

God has specific concern for widows:

1. Grieving – Mathew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Also, Ps. 147.

2. Widows specifically – God defends (Ps. 68:5) , God provides for (Deut 10:18; 14:28-29, Acts 6:1-3), God upholds (Ps. 146:9), God takes as “bride” (Isaiah 54:4-5), God commands protection for (Exodus 22:22), True widows are commended as those who may pray (1 Tim 5).

*Widowhood is a time of opportunity to draw closer to the Lord [as He has drawn closer to you in the waters of Baptism, and in your time of grief]. According to Scripture, widows have less to distract from their relationship with God and otherwise occupy them.

In the history of the church, widows were specially provided for (as in Acts) and became a special community within the church that was devoted to prayer and works of mercy. This is the ancient basis for what has become the various orders of “nuns”.

AS you grieve and begin the difficult process of having a different sort of life, it is CRITICAL that you are being spiritually nourished…

Cultivating relationship with the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Two main ways in which Christians do this, listed in order of importance:

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1. In the Church: means of grace – Hearing the Word preached, receiving the Sacrament.

2. In personal devotions/disciplines

Scripture study and meditation

Prayer forms, free prayer

Good works (spiritual and corporal)

Community support: Other widows. It is my hope that as you cultivate your relationship with our God, you will support, encourage, and show Christian love to one another. Some time in every meeting should be devoted to discussion and mutual support.

Service Work/Projects?

Professional: Grief counselors, MSW, Psychologist/Psychiatrists?

Book club aspect? The Undistracted Widow.

Each Session: Brief devotion, Theme for the Day (presenter), Sharing, Outing?… Closing prayer and benediction.

How often should we meet? Is there a better time to have the class? Questions and concerns?

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Prayer

Most loving Father, perfect defender of widows, you know the pain and sorrow of death; mercifully hear our prayer for those who mourn the death of their husbands. Comfort them and bring an end to the days of tears. Renew them with the joy of life. Grant them grace to draw closer to you, as you draw near to them. Give them your peace, which passes all understanding and keeps our hearts and minds in Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.

Benediction – Aaronic.

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Selections from Holy Scripture concerning widowhood.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 1

3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 2

5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 3

18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.4

28 “At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.5

6 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.6

9  The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 7

4  “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;

for you will forget the shame of your youth,

1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Mt 5:4). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ps 147:3). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ps 68:5). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

4 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Dt 10:18). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

5 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Dt 14:28–29). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

6 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ac 6:1–3). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

7 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ps 146:9). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

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and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. 5  For your Maker is your husband,

the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,

the God of the whole earth he is called. 8

22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry,9

3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,10

8 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Is 54:4–5). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

9 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ex 22:22–23). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

10 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (1 Ti 5:3–5). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.