Sunday, June 25, 2017

Today’s Scripture Reading  |  Psalm 100          

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
   Worship the Lord with gladness;
   come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.
   It is he that made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
   and his courts with praise.
   Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good;
   his steadfast love endures forever,
   and his faithfulness to all generations. (NRSV)

Reflection
Psalm 100 is a text that we are familiar with, containing phrases that we hear frequently in hymns or in a call to worship. It is quite short compared to many psalms but still filled with plenty of reminders for us on how to worship and love our God.

In our weekly Children’s Chapel and Sunday School classes, we often talk about how serving others is a way for us to worship and show God’s love to our friends and neighbors. A few times a year, Fourth Church families gather on a Saturday morning to work a shift at the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory, an organization that serves children in low-income and homeless situations in the Chicago area. We clean and sort toys and shoes, create book and outfit packs, make cards—and the shift just flies by! Once our shift is over, the Giving Factory tells us how many area kids we have served, and the number is always astonishing. Our family volunteer time is meaningful for both the parents and children, and gives our children a solid understanding of worshiping God through service. They are truly showing God’s love to our community and practicing what Jesus has taught us to do.

Prayer
Gracious and loving God, thank you for your unfailing love that surrounds me every moment of every day. Even with the hustle and bustle of my daily life, open my eyes to opportunities to reflect your love into the lives of others. Amen.

Written by Briana Belding-Peck, Family Ministry Coordinator

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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