We belong to each other... part of God's family...

This week our high school students are away (and soon our middle school students will also go) at the Montreat Youth Conference, a powerful retreat setting for Spiritual growth!

I ask for your prayers for the students and leaders while they discover anew the power of God's transforming love.  The below prayers follow their study this week.

Theme of the day: 

We belong to each other because we are a part of God’s family of faith.


Scripture:

John 1:1-13

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life,and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

Today we’ve spent a lot of time talking about being members of the family of God...”

Reflect:
• What feels comforting, exciting or special about being a member of one, huge, world-wide, intergenerational family of God?


• What feels weird about it and why is being a part of God’s family sometimes hard?



Prayer:

Today, 

we are so thankful, Lord,
that you chose to love us so much
that you created us to be your sons and daughters. 

Even when we mess up and disappoint you, 

we know that you are the ever-loving parent 

who never stops loving us, no matter what, 

and always welcomes us back home. 

Be with all your children this night, 

especially those who are facing hard times

Help us to be the sons and daughters 

you created us to be - 

children who are rooted in your love 

and have been called to reach out to the world. 

Amen.