Love
Week 1
As followers of Jesus, we serve in every area of life by giving ourselves to others, valuing our neighbors’ needs as our own, and trusting that, through this radical servanthood, God’s love is revealed and our needs are met.
Learn more about practicing the liturgy.
Leader prays. Group Prays.
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Let us share in the joys and sorrows of one another's life.
What has been the highlight of your week?
What has been the low of your week? -
Let’s prepare our hearts in worship.
We are called into the church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be God’s servants in the service of all, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join Christ in his passion and victory.
“Beloved let us love one another, for love comes from God.”
All who love are born of God and know God.
Let us worship God! -
We will take a moment in quiet to reflect on our actions this past week. Then, together, we will confess and be reminded that we are the forgiven community.
Most merciful God,
We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.
Amen. -
Let us hear the word of the Lord from the Psalms.
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord
and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.
–Psalm 24 (NIV) -
Let us affirm our faith with the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day, he rose again.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the global Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen. -
An introduction to serving.
As Jesus followers, we aim to follow Jesus or we do the very things he did while he was on earth. This means we show up in all areas of life to serve not to be served. It means we give our lives away to others just as Jesus did for us and the whole world. Serving entails intentionally recognizing the genuine needs of our neighbors as equally or more important as our own. It is through this radical kind of servanthood that people come to know the Father's heart. And in turn, Jesus promises us that we will be loved and cared for by Him, that we will have everything we need.
To begin the practice of serving, we will look to the example of Jesus, who was willing to give up his divine privilege to serve.
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Let us open the scriptures and learn the story of Christ.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
–Philippians 2:3-11 (NIV) -
Let’s take a moment to talk through what we have heard, reflecting on what it is saying to us.
What can we learn about this week's practice through this passage?
What’s your primary feeling about living more deeply into Jesus’ vision of service?
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Let us consider how to follow Jesus in our everyday lives.
This week, serve someone. Start small by serving someone close to you, such as a friend or family member. Do the dishes for them, get them coffee, or run an errand.
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At this time, if you have a prayer request, we’ll hear those and conclude with the Lord’s prayer.
What would you like to lift up in prayer?
As our Savior taught us, so we pray;
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen. -
Let us confess the Mystery of our Faith.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again. -
May we go from this place prepared to reveal the Kingdom of Jesus, together.
Living God, draw us deeper into your love;
Jesus our Lord, send us to care and serve;
Holy Spirit, make us heralds of good news.
Stir us, strengthen us,
teach and inspire us to live your love
with generosity and joy, imagination and courage;
for the sake of your world and in the name of Jesus,
Amen. -
