Friday, July 17

 Friday

Cardigan:
Leader: It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood…
All: A beautiful day for a neighbor.

Today’s Mail:
1 John 4:21 — “The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”

Devotion:
We’ve spent this week loving our neighbor. Not perfectly, but intentionally. And something happens when you practice that kind of love day after day. You start to notice things. Moments that felt small at the time begin to mean more. Conversations stay with you. Acts of kindness linger. You begin to see that God has been at work all along.

Mister Rogers had a way of helping people feel seen, known, and cared for. He connected with people in real, authentic ways and in doing so, he helped them recognize something important: that love is not just something we give, it’s something we receive. 

This week, you didn’t just bring love to your neighbor. You were changed by it.

Tonight, we’ll gather for communion, and we’ll bring with us symbols from this week, something from your work site or this week’s experience that holds meaning for you. It might be something simple. It might not seem important at first. But as you think about it, ask yourself: Where did I see love this week? Where did I notice God? What moment is staying with me? That symbol becomes a way to share your story; your moment of love, your moment of learning, your moment of seeing God at work. 

Because loving our neighbor doesn’t just change the world around us. It changes us, too.

Wonder Question (For pondering today)
What is one moment from this week that you don’t want to forget?

Daily Prayer:
God, as we go to serve today, help us love our neighbor as ourselves.
Guide our hands in the work we do, and our hearts in the people we meet.
Teach us to listen, to be kind, and to share your love in all we do. Amen.

Feed the Fish:
Leader: Who is our neighbor?
All: The one we choose to love.
All: Amen.