Collect

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen

Exodus 17:1-7 . . . the people are at the point of rebellion because they are without water in the wilderness

Psalm 95 . . .  A Call to Worship and Obedience

Romans 5:1-11 . . . Paul bids disciples to rejoice in the reconciliation and hope which are theirs because of the sacrifices of Christ on behalf of sinners.

John 4:5-42 . . . the story of Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman by Jacob’s well.

The Sermon

Reverend Amy Starr Redwine, pastor and head of staff at First Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia says, “A long tradition of Biblical interpretation concludes that the woman at the well must be a prostitute. Many of us come to this text, John 4:5-42, preconditioned to see the shame the woman carries as surely as she carries her water jar.” According to Redwine, despite what we may have been taught, this text is not about shame. Instead, Redwine invites us to consider “what might happen if we engage one another as human beings created by God, inherently valuable and worthy of love and respect.”