Advent Devotions

Today’s author is Prince of Peace’s Minister of Intergenerational Connection and Care, Julene Hannesh.

1 John 3:16-20: We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

This Summer in North Carolina, the high school youth group got to practice loving God with their bodies. For three days, they showed love to people they had just met or people they would never meet by lifting, bending, carrying, holding, crawling, and contorting their bodies in every way necessary to get the job before them done. From chopping wood and hauling debris to removing insulation and installing new insulation to repairing and building a fence, their bodies were pushed to their limits, leaving sore muscles, bruises, cuts, and scrapes. And yet, they rarely complained. Of all the groups I have ever taken on a service-learning trip, I have never had a group so eager to love God with their bodies. I can’t wait for you to hear more about their experiences and how they loved God with their bodies at the Youth Trip Share Service on “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday, September 13^th.

Additionally, the Youth will be doing a “noisy” offering for LDR Carolinas. To support the recovery work, please join us in bringing in spare change to worship on September 13^th.

God of Change, we pray for all those whose lives have been disrupted by Hurricane Helene and beyond. We pray for those who have lost loved ones. We pray for the safety of those continuing to work for clean-up and restoration as the area is on a 10-year recovery track. We pray for the ongoing restoration of the area and that all may know Your love and comfort. We give thanks that we were able to use our bodies to love God and our neighbors. In your name we pray, Amen.