The Church Has Left the Building

Welcome to Love the World: The Church Has Left the Building

One Sunday a year, a growing number of congregations launch out to be Jesus' hands and feet in countless community projects. What started in 2010 with Woodside Church in Yardley, PA is mushrooming into a movement of congregations.

The movement engages all ages in projects that bless local communities.  In a single day, they stock pantries, deliver books to inner-­-city-­-school libraries, clean up the environment, lead worship for people in recovery, make meals for the homebound, build shelters for the homeless, sew dresses for Haiti, and so much more.  It is truly a taste of heaven. 

The day is really the culmination of 40 days of prayer, Bible reading, sermons, and small-group Bible studies. As we read about Jesus loving the lost and healing the hurting, momentum builds toward the day when we go out and follow in his steps. 

Our theme is "Love the World: The Church Has Left the Building."  Based on John 3:16, our outreach this year will focus on the way Jesus loved individuals in the Gospel of John.  All the devotionals in this booklet are meditations on the book of John, encouraging us to love in Christ's name. 

On Sunday, May 17, 2015, United Presbyterian Church will leave the building following worship to love the world in Jesus' name! We hope you will be inspired by this devotional to join us.

DAY ONE John 1:1-­-28
Carolyn Edwards, Faith Lutheran -­- Northeast Philadelphia

Where do you see Jesus? As a life-­-long Lutheran, I have heard and read verses 1 thru 5 of this passage more times than I can remember, and yet
than as I read it again for this exercise, I have to read it more than once before it sinks in. With some help from my interpretive Bible, I learn that the Jews used the term 'the word' as an expression of God's wisdom.  Now it starts to make sense, reminding me of what I have always known: In the beginning was God, who gave us the Light, which was Jesus.  So if people want to know
God, they can look to Jesus.  If people want to know Jesus, they can look to his followers. My Pastor once posed the question, 'Where do you see Jesus?' As we kick off these days of prayer leading up to May 17th, I think it is more important to ask "Do people see Jesus in you?' In a few short weeks, we will be taking our faith out into our communities. What a perfect opportunity to show our friends and neighbors what Jesus was like!

Action Step:
Prepare your heart, mind and body in the weeks leading up to May 17th.

Prayer:
Lord, help us to see Christ in others, and to show Christ to our world. Amen.

                        

---