Loving Others

Thank you for joining us for our Digital Worship Gathering! You can use the worship guide below to follow along with songs, prayers and readings. This week is the fifth in our series Present Hope.

See last week’s service here | Listen to previously recorded talks here | Want to join us on Zoom? Send us a message.

Call to Worship

We are a community of faith
that has been created by the love of God.
We are a people who have been set free by forgiveness in Jesus Christ,
and are therefore a people called to reach out to those in our midst.
We are given the command to love God and love one another.
We have come not to exalt our own goodness,
but to praise the holiness of God.
We have come not to boast of what we have done,
but to proclaim the redeeming work of Jesus Christ
by extending the hand of community to those around us.
With all our being,
we will praise God and tell of God’s goodness
in our acts of kindness and love.

Merciful God,
We confess that we have not always lived up to the example
set by Your Son, Jesus Christ.
In Your mercy, hear our prayer of confession.

We confess how difficult it is to truly love the people around us;
to care as deeply for their well-being as for our own,
to delight in their good fortune without feeling envious.
Forgive us.
Teach us to whole-heartedly love one another.

We confess how often we act out of our own self-interest;
putting our needs and desires ahead of the needs of others,
hoarding our resources rather than sharing them freely.
Forgive us.
Teach us to live with generosity and compassion.

We confess how easy it is to do what we know is wrong:
to rationalize our bad decisions and behaviors,
to make excuses for our hurtful words and actions.
Forgive us.
Teach us to turn away from what is wrong and pursue what is right.

We confess that we find it very difficult to love our enemies:
to pray for their well-being,
to act in their best interests,
to leave thoughts of vengeance behind.
Forgive us.
Teach us to love even those who hurt or offend us.

You call us to turn away from the behaviors and attitudes of the world around us;
and to be renewed and transformed by Your grace at work in our lives.
Through Your Holy Spirit, continue the work that You have begun in us,
so that our words and deeds may bring honor and glory to You.

In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.

Feel free to read along with Paul when he reads this scripture:

^{1 Peter 3:8-12 (NIV)}

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,

“Whoever would love life
    and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
    and their lips from deceitful speech.
They must turn from evil and do good;
    they must seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
    and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Children’s Worship

This week, Pastor Paul is teaching us about loving each other. By doing this, we are able to help people become more like Christ.

Activity 1

One way that we can do this is by turning from evil and doing good. Complete this coloring page and answer the questions with your family:

1. What does it mean to pursue something?
2. How can we turn away from evil?
3. What are some ways that you can seek peace this week?

Activity 2

Another way that we can show love is by serving one another. Here is an activity that can help us get a better understanding of what it looks like:

1. Take each of the following phrases and write them down on a piece of paper and place then in a bowl.
   • Pray for a friend.
   • Sweep the floor.
   • Feed the hungry.
   • Give money to the poor.
   • Write thank-you letters.
   • Hug someone.
   • Read the Bible to someone.
   • Hold the door open.
   • Set the table for dinner.
   • Rake your neighbor’s leaves.
2. With your family, have each person choose a piece of paper. 
3. Take turns acting out what is on your paper. 
4. While acting, have others try and guess what act of love you are doing.

Gift Offering

For financial gifts, use your bank’s online payment option to send a gift to Discovery, or have someone address an envelope (a good opportunity for digital natives) and place the stamp on it. Checks can be mailed to:

Discovery Church
7245 Eastern Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508

Please specify “general fund” or “missions fund” on the memo line.

Or, use this form to give online via the Christian Reformed Church’s site (our denomination). Be sure to choose Michigan- Grand Rapids- Discovery CRC from the drop-down list. You can give via credit card or automatic bank withdrawal. A 3% fee will be charged to Discovery.

For gifts of encouragement, write a note or draw a picture for someone who may need encouragement at this time. Have someone address the envelope and place a stamp on it. Or deliver it in person (keep that six foot social distance) to a neighbor or loved one.

For gifts of art, share a picture or video of your artistic response to the talk or your coloring page with us on Instagram (@discoverycrc) (parents permitting).

Blessing

May our Almighty God enable you to find who you truly are
because of who He has called you to be.
May the Holy Spirit guide your actions as a result
to communicate kindness in the face of hatred
and Christ’s light in the presence of darkness.
May your actions be those that draw others to see God more clearly.
May each of you express unity,
sympathy, love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
May the Holy Spirit enable you to fight for those who typically get left out,
embodying the heart of our Father.
May we be a people who overcome evil with good.

Digital Prayer Pad

Prayer requests will be sent to Sara, our administrator, who will compile and distribute them to the congregation via email throughout the week as usual.

© Discovery CRC, Grand Rapids Web Design - Simpler Site LLC