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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

Ministry, especially youth ministry, was never intended to be a service profession. Ministry is the grateful response of God’s people, whose activity in the world and with one another suggests a new way of being alive. Ministry is not something we “do” to someone else. It is a holy way of living toward God and toward one another. Somehow in the din of modernity, this distinctive way of life—sometimes called “the sanctified life,” “Christian perfection,” or “holiness,” depending upon your theological perspective—got lost along the way. We traded holiness for effectiveness, charisms for careers, soulfulness for savvy. In the meantime, young people got lost or abandoned. So did many adults.

—Kenda Creasy Dean, Ron Foster, & Megan Dewald, The Godbearing Life, Revised Edition (Upper Room Books, 2023)

Today’s Question

How do you feel about the statement “Ministry, especially youth ministry, was never intended to be a service profession”? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

[Jesus] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
—2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low by thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

—A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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4 Comments

  • Julie Posted February 27, 2023 9:44 am

    Considering that we are asked to use our talents in service to God, I believe it is a service. It is a service by someone in honor of their sanctification by Christ. Because we are saved and sanctified we then go with gratitude to do the works God has prepared for us in advance.
    Yesterday was a day with Megan and it was jam packed. We saw the movie “Jesus Revolution” which was very good. Then we ran many errands. Finally we picked up takeout. But Megan had to leave as soon as we got home to meet her best friend. They saw a show based on a podcast they both enjoy. The people who do the podcast, it is a story type podcast, were doing the show. She enjoyed it very much. I stayed home and dealt with h, ate my takeout and watched “Call the Midwife” which is excellent.

  • Ally Posted February 27, 2023 10:13 am

    Not sure how I feel about this statement. As a former youth minister, my philosophy was that we served alongside each other: students and leader. But if one espouses the servant-leader model, then there is a degree of service involved. I will say this: working with students can be a joy. There is heartache too. I had successes and made many mistakes. There is a fine line between being “in charge” and being approachable. Another fine line between encouraging kids to take ownership of the group and letting them take over. Maintaining proper boundaries and being mature enough without being the “old fogey” is crucial. I got burned out. I don’t think it was really my calling. But I have good memories.
    This past week was a hard one. We said goodbye to my mama’s kitty who lived with me and then my sister, Kissaboo. Very hard, as I didn’t get to be there to say goodbye. Kissaboo was a special boy who brought joy and companionship to mama in her final years. And then, next day, our little Scout Finch. She was 17. The hard part is not making the decision to let them go, but seeing that they are suffering. You just want to help them not be in pain and know they are loved. I will miss these wonderful kitties so much. Both were beautiful souls pray for Amy my sister, as she deals with this loss on top of losing the job she loved. She’s had some trouble getting things she needs from them. She has discovered that everyone in her department who was laid off was over 40 and had some chronic health issues. This company has shown their true colors in the way they handled this.

  • Jill Posted February 27, 2023 2:36 pm

    I am trying to decipher what the author meant by “service profession”. Is the emphasis on service or profession? Indeed, all of us are called to serve others. Building a community, as opposed to a product, is important. I feel like that is where many churches..modern churches of today are missing the point. They have a product, but community is missing. I know many churches seek to have smaller groups, whatever name they may go by, in order to build community. Building true community takes much sacrifice, perhaps the biggest being time. Also, a willingness to lay aside one’s agenda and be a good listener, and authentic participant.
    Another school day in the books, a good one I suppose, considering it was a Monday. Another 4 day week for students (their third in a row) as we have inservice/professional development this Friday.
    Grateful to be headed home for a quiet evening. It is rainy outside. Will be grateful to get in with the kittens and have an easy evening, which will include early to bed. Last night’s tennis was quite competitive, lost a really close match. But, very ok with it, since the level of tennis was so high. Made for a later night than usual, which makes tonight an earlier night.
    Got a text from my friend, she and her husband’s disillusionment paperwork was filed today and their court hearing – a formality – is March 28.

  • robert moeller Posted February 27, 2023 6:22 pm

    I too have to ask what is meant by “service profession”. Many pastors start serving young people, Having helped a youth pastor with middle school age Sunday school and confirmation I can join Ally in testifying that there can be great joy and great challenges on a very roller coaster ride as young people transition from childhood to young people. While a time of great change is occurring, it is a very important time for young people to have the best help possible. Everyone, the young people, their parents, siblings, teachers, family, and friends are going through a period expressing their different perspectives, I found this age group hard to deal with, I was a high school teacher.
    From Tiger Tip Toes, Tuffy, Snowball in my youth to the cats my children had, Tiger, Mr. Miyagy, Isis, and Pearl and now the cat Willa and Oona have, Noodkes, pets are super precious. We love them unconditionally. Losing one is traumatic. Sorry for the loss of Kissaboo and Scout Finch, Ally, and Roger, Jill.
    Your love of tennis and competition shows, Jill. That’s true sportsmanship.
    Not ever experiencing in any way midwifery , Call the Midwife is an eye opening show about this life enabling profession and life in Britain. Very enjoyable, Julie
    So far so good with our new coordinating pastor at CCUMC. After 12 years my computer bit the dust, hope to have a replacement soon.. These days having one is essential.
    Lab work at the hospital in the morning, then the first week of 40 days with the Messiah.
    The skiing and snowshoeing was great today. Thank You, Lord.

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