Each year, “God’s Work. Our Hands” Weekend gives us the opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. And a vital first step in loving our neighbors well is to know and understand them on a deeper level. Without that relationship, our acts of service too easily become performative, more about us than about building supportive mutual community.
In-Worship
With that in mind, this year, we are trying something new! During each of our weekend worship hours, the Nativity community will be invited to participate in a short, guided prayer walk around our neighborhood. The prayer walk will feature a number of stops with a prompt to pray for and reflect on a certain subset of the community. At each stop, kids and adults alike can collect a sticker to mark their progress. As we make our way through the neighborhood, the people of Nativity will have the opportunity to see and be seen, to observe the needs of our neighbors and to engage with the community on a spiritual level.
The prayer walk will be integrated into each worship hour. We’ll begin in the sanctuary together as usual and then return after the walk to celebrate Holy Communion together. The walk itself is a little over a half a mile long and is expected to take 15-20 minutes. Anyone who cannot or does not wish to participate in the walk is welcome to remain in the sanctuary, where Pastor Glenn will lead a time of extended prayer for our neighbors.
After service, join us in the Commons to explore the plethora of outreach opportunities to engage in, not just on GWOH weekend, but throughout the year!
GWOH Service Project Outside Worship: September Help at LSS Safe House
Sunday, September 10, 9:00-11:30 am
Join us as we do yardwork and indoor cleaning at the shelter to support teens who are experiencing homelessness. For those interested, we’ll carpool that day, leaving Nativity at 8:30 am and returning by 12:00 pm. To share your interest or for more information, contact Gail Bergsven at ggantz1@aol.com, 651-329-4446.