ColaSalk2023 Friday

 

Friday Morning

We Belong

Matthew 22:37-40

He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

We started our week reminding ourselves that we belong to God and making connections with each other and our home families. I pray that you have taken the time to do that. I pray that you learned more about yourself, each other and God in this week. The best way, as Christians, for us to love God is to love our neighbor. Today’s reading is called the greatest commandment. Jesus taught us this. John Wesley, the man who founded Methodism, gave us three rules: Do no harm, Do good, and attend to the ordinances of God. Sometimes the third rule is written as Stay in love with God, but I like ordinances because the word ordinances is a better reminder of what staying in love with God means. The ordinances are a prescribed ritual…in plain english ordinances are a list of things we do. The ordinances are found in Matthew 25:35-45 and are given to us by Jesus. Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger (thank you homeowners for welcoming us into your home!), clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit those in prison (literally and in their spirit). It’s interesting that in doing these acts, we are saying to the other you belong. You are important. You matter. It could just as easily be me and someday it might be. We belong to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and to one another. 

Challenge or “Look for it moment”: Tonight at worship we have a special service including communion. You will have an opportunity to share a memory from the week if you want (it is not mandatory to speak). We invite you to find a symbol or token from your site to place up front. An object that means something to you from this week. Something you can take home with you to remind you that you belong. 

Prayer: Dear God, We belong to you. Help us today as we work and serve you. Amen.

Note to site leaders and adults: Just as you did on the first day, connect with each youth. Thank them, mention something specific they did over the week and remind them that they belong to God.