Worship: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

           

            Neighbor

            Neighbor countries

            foreign countries

            powerful and non-descript

            they came seeking

            waiting—wondering now at

public display

            did they remember

            Scripture words

            from east—west—north—south

            My people shall come.

            Was it to happen

            now—here—this prophecy?

Reflection: Foreign: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     Have you mostly experienced a ‘by invitation only’, or an open door, house of worship?

2.      What do you consider to be the strengths or weaknesses of each approach?

3.     In what ways does your place of worship influence your heart of worship both within and without the physical location?

Share: Have you been able to participate in a multicultural, multi-language, or multi-denominational worship? What brought fellowship to the gathering?

Foreign: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Acts 2:10

“Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,”

Friendly countries. Enemy countries.

Stronger countries.

Jews and Gentiles.

Seeking—waiting—worshipping.

Together despite their outer differences, culture, education, appearance, color, wealth, or style.

Together in heart intent. At great distance. Great trials endured for the privilege of celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem.

How often since do Your churches, houses of worship, separate and judge each other from eternal criteria. Anything that is ‘foreign’ to our gatherings.

How often do we as Your people reject or judge another without cause. Without truth-filled hearts.

Instead, Lord, help us to recognize Your invitation to come into our worship as fellow seekers, into our lives and homes as members of Your family.

Keep us from allowing prejudice to take root and instead open our hearts to receive and give in fellowship from all corners of Your created earth and from all corners within our cities.

You alone can judge each heart by Your word. May we remember and recognize fellow worshippers and offer hospitality. Let us not dismiss what You see as good.

Psalm of Worship: Genesis 1:10

“God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.”