Sermon for February 11th, 2024

John 8:2-11

2 Early in the morning he [Jesus] came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and, making her stand before all of them, 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Psalm 34:15-18

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Faith & Film XII - Waitress: The Musical

• [Film Clip #1: Trailer] (1:34)

Three Minute Film Summary

Jenna Hunterson is a Waitress, and according to everyone who knows her, a "Pie Genius." But the pies she makes at the diner where she works are for Jenna an escape from the hard reality of her life: An abusive husband and an unwanted pregnancy. She daydreams of entering and winning a local pie making contest that will give her enough money to leave her husband and start a new life. She also begins to have an affair with her gynecologist, a kind, gentle (but married) man who notices her and listens to her. For Jenna, the affair (like the pies she makes) is an intoxicating escape from the harsh reality of her life. Jenna is encouraged by her two friends and fellow waitresses, Dawn and Becky, who are also trying to fill the void in their lives in the best ways they can. She is also sometimes antagonized and sometimes encouraged by Joe--the cranky old man who owns the diner, and several other establishments in town (which should give you a clue as to his identity). Through the course of the film (and many songs) Jenna wrestles with her desperate situation, her own choices (which often seem to make things worse), and with the new life that is growing in her womb.

Dreamers

• [Film Clip #2: Dreamers] (5:06)

Fall from Grace

• [Film Clip #3: Joe] (2:23)

• [Film Clip #5: Old Man] (2:32)

• [Film Clip #4: You Matter to Me] (1:37)

Amazing Grace

• [Film Clip #6: Everything Changes 1] (3:10)
• [Film Clip #7: Everything Changes 2] (3:16)