Liturgy
You, who are fearfully and
wonderfully made, listen.
God is with us.
You, who are daily renewed
by the blood of Christ, look.
God is with us.
You, who are given life by the
Holy Spirit, breathe deeply.
God is with us.
May we open our hearts to hear the word of God today.
May we receive the love that is in every word, and
may we be comforted by the assurance of God’s presence.
We gather this morning,
ever learning to love and be loved,
in the name of
our present God,
our teacher Jesus,
our comforter Spirit,
amen.
(Sarah Berson)
Scripture Reading
We invite you to hear from the reading of John 15: 12-17.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the
servant does not know what the master is doing; but
I have called you friends, because I have made known
to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I
appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last,
so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him
in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands
so that you may love one another.
The Good News of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.
Sermon and Reflection
Sermon Podcast 05.09.2021 Abiding in Love
How do you imagine God’s loving gaze toward you?
What would it look like to lay down your ego and practice non-transactional love?
How are we creating a more loving community and becoming more loving people?
Benediction
Vox community, let us end with a benediction.
May grace and peace be ours in abundance,
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus, our Lord.
May we be thankful for simple things, for friendship,
for health, for daily bread, for good news.
May we rise above the corruption of power
and become participants in the divine nature.
May we go from this place to pursue goodness,
wisdom, holiness and love.
God the Creator, call us to the work of the kingdom.
God the Redeemer, keep us from stumbling.
God the Sustainer, transform and inspire us.
Let us leave, thankful and serving
with the love of the Father,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Go in peace, and live the church.
May you find community and belonging this week.
[Photo by Kai]