With all the noise in the world, do you hear the voice of God? Your calendar tells you what to do, but do you remember who you are? Being comes before doing. This is a call to put first things first. Return to the Lord with this daily pattern of prayer and devotion. Set aside this time as a sanctuary. Find a space free of distraction and follow this pattern.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
O God, you are the beginning, the middle, and the end. You are all in all. Lead me. Help me. Forgive me. Keep me from wandering and weariness. Keep my love ready and willing to serve You by serving others. Praise and honor be to You, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen.
Confession
O God, how can I believe without your help. I am filled with doubt. “What about . . . ?” “Is it really true?” “How do I really know you’re there? That you’re listening? That you care about me?” I confess with honesty all my fear and disbelief. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. I believe; help my unbelief.
Word: Acts 1:10-11
“And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’”
Meditation: Here is the church, here is the steeple
Today’s meditation is written by Koleen Barnes.
Here is the church
Here is the steeple
Open the doors
And see all of the people
This is a rhyme that most Christian children learn early on, if not from their grandparents, like I did, then at Sunday school. You start by interlocking your hands, but with your fingers on the inside. Here is the church. Then you bring your index fingers up to touch. Here is the steeple. Finally, you turn your hands towards your heart, open the doors, wiggle your fingers, and see all of the people.
When I think about church, I think about our building. I think about the bricks that have been laid together for generations before I was even thought of. I think about the orange plaster walls that were torn down a few years after my husband and I said ‘I do’ in front of that altar. I think about the giant cross made out of old organ parts that hangs in the front. To be honest, I don’t think much about our steeple.
What I inevitably end up thinking about is our people. I think of the broken people, just like me, who are looking for something more. These people who have chosen to live their lives in a similar way as I have and who, by some miracle, have also found me. I think of the people from so many different generations, stations, backgrounds, and mindsets that all gather and discuss and express their faith.
In a recent sermon, our Pastor said that the church is not full of perfect people. Church is not only for those who have it all figured out. I love that our church is a place where we can be ourselves and admit that we are not perfect and that we need help. I think that is how we can show the world the church we know. We can show others the grace and love that God shows us by saying “Here is my church. We are not the steeple. Come on in, we are your people.”
Lord, thank you for our brothers and sisters in your church. Help us encourage and love one another in the midst of our brokenness. Help us keep one another’s eyes on you. Amen.
Benediction
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Amen. (Rom. 15:13)