Speaker: Rev. Ellen Marsey

Rev. Ellen Marsey’s sermon dramatized the story of the bent-over woman from Luke 13:10-17, portraying her journey to the synagogue, her sense of isolation, and her miraculous healing by Jesus. The woman describes how society had made her invisible due to her condition and how she doubted her worthiness to be healed. However, Jesus saw her, called her forward, and healed her, restoring her dignity and place in the community. The synagogue leaders criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but he rebuked them, emphasizing that human needs take precedence over strict legalism. The sermon highlighted Jesus’ compassion, his challenge to religious hypocrisy, and the importance of being seen and valued by God.

This sermon explores the dual nature of faith and healing through the story of Bartimaeus, the blind man. Using the metaphor of “two sides of a coin,” Rev. Ellen Marsey highlights Bartimaeus’s healing as both a physical restoration and a spiritual call. Bartimaeus’s act of reaching out exemplifies humility and dependence on God, challenging our self-sufficiency. The message concludes with a call for discipleship, where even in our own woundedness, we can find strength to serve others.