Simply Fellowship Episode 1 Mary and Martha

 
WELCOME
"Welcome to Above All Love. I'm David, and this is Simply Fellowship — the Good News, quietly told.
This is a gentle space. No pressure, no performance. You don't have to have it together to be here. You don't have to believe the right things or feel the right feelings. You're welcome exactly as you are, wherever you are listening to this.
If you need to move, fidget, or pause and come back later — that's completely fine. There's no right way to be here. Just be here."

HYMN
"We're going to begin with a hymn. I'll read it rather than sing it — one verse, slowly. You might want to just listen, or read along, or simply close your eyes.
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light."

PRAYER
"Let's pray together.
Loving God,
Thank you for bringing us together in this moment — wherever we each are.
Help us to feel your presence with us now.
Give us quiet hearts and open minds.
May we know we are loved, held, and welcomed by you.
Amen."

SCRIPTURE
"Our reading today is from Luke chapter ten, verses thirty eight to forty two. I'm reading from the Easy English Bible.
As Jesus and his disciples travelled along, he came to a village. A woman called Martha received him into her home. She had a sister called Mary. Mary sat down near the Lord's feet and she listened to his message. But Martha was doing many jobs to prepare the meal. She came to Jesus and she said, 'Lord, my sister has left me to do all the work alone. Do you not mind about that? Tell her that she should help me.' The Lord replied to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are upset and confused about many things. Only one thing is really important. Mary has chosen to do the right thing and nobody will take that away from her.'"

DEVOTION
"In this story, Martha is anxious. She's doing everything right — she's serving, she's working hard, she's being a good host. But Jesus gently tells her she's upset and confused about many things.
Mary, on the other hand, is just sitting. Listening. Being present.
And Jesus says that's the one thing that matters.
Many of us have lived like Martha. We've felt we need to do more, be more, prove ourselves worthy of God's attention. We've been told that church means serving on rotas, singing louder, praying better, understanding more.
But Jesus looks at Mary — quiet, still, just listening — and says she's chosen what will not be taken away.
Above All Love exists because we believe presence is enough. You don't have to perform faith here. You don't have to get it right. You can just be here, like Mary, and know that's what Jesus wants most.
Sitting at his feet. Listening. Being loved.
That's it. That's the whole thing."

WONDERING QUESTIONS
"I want to offer you some wondering questions now. These aren't questions that need answers. They're just things to hold and sit with. You might want to pause the episode here for a few minutes and just let them settle.
I wonder what it felt like for Mary to just sit and listen when everyone else was busy?
I wonder what made Martha feel so anxious and worried?
I wonder if you've ever felt like Martha — like you had to keep doing things to be accepted?
I wonder if you've ever felt like Mary — choosing just to be present, even when it felt like you should be doing something?
I wonder what Jesus means when he says Mary has chosen what will not be taken away?
I wonder if there's a place in your life where you could just sit and listen instead of rushing and doing?
I wonder what the one thing that matters is for you right now?

Queries:
And a question to sit with, in the spirit of the Quaker tradition:
Am I open to the healing power of God's love — or am I so busy with tasks and anxieties that I miss the gift of simply being present?"

TIME OF GENTLE PRESENCE
"I'm going to leave a few minutes of silence now. You can sit with those questions, or just rest, or do whatever you need to do.
There's no expectation. Just be."

BENEDICTION
"Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
May you know that God is with you,
in the noise and in the quiet,
in the doing and in the sitting still.
May you go from this moment knowing you are loved —
not for what you do,
but simply because you are.
Amen.
Thank you for being here. Above all, love."