Marty Haugen wrote the song that expresses this message. Called “All Are Welcome”, it is found in the ELW 641. The first verse:

Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,
A place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;
Here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Likewise, God will call us to do work for him at sometimes unlikely times. We may wish God would choose a different place or time or task. We might think it should be done by others: those more educated, those younger, or those less busy! Be flexible to hear God’s call to service or to try something new! God needs us! Thank God for leading us into new journeys guided by God.

This extremely short letter to “a lady” is worth a read. Obviously, this “elect lady” is the head of the Christian believers in the community. Perhaps she has reached out to John with the dilemma of how to deal with some folks in the neighborhood who are preaching a disturbing message. Perhaps some in the church community are being wooed away from some basic principles of the Gospel.

The picture here is of Jesus reaching down to rescue a lamb that is caught in the brambles, even at the risk of his own life. It is a painting, by Alford Usher Soord (1868-1915) of Britain, called the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7). It also recalls the passage from John 10:11 which says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

You and I carry many stories, poems, and pictures around with us. They tell us and others who we are, what is our heritage, and what lies deep within our souls. They reflect our faith, our convictions, and the things that really matter to us. They are stimulated by the experiences of each day—what we see, hear, taste, and feel.

    (Brooks Koepka pictured here)

Peace. It was demonstrated by Jesus. It was spoken of by the prophets, Gospel writers, and early church leaders.  It is a gift from God. When we put our entire trust in God and God’s promises, we suddenly feel “at peace.” When we strive to bring peace within the family, the HOA leaders of our communities, or within our town, we become instruments of God’s love and purpose. God’s desire for us is to live in harmony, in God’s Kingdom here on earth, today, tomorrow, and for eternity.

We live in a world that rarely thinks of God as interested in a relational connection with his creation. There is a common belief that each person better figure things out for him or herself. God just isn’t interested.  How lonesome and scary that would be for me. But we’ve learned that God does care.

Studies have shown that when people perform behaviors associated with compassionate love such as warm smiles, friendly hand gestures, affirmative forward leans toward another, the body produces more oxytocin, which self-perpetuates itself. This motivates us to be even more compassionate!

Throughout the years, I have carried the idea of sabbath with me and incorporated its practice into our family life. Every home, every person, even our work and land need a time of rest, renewal, and worship. It does not eliminate our caring for others but energizes us to be people of compassion.