Motown Mission Devotional Guide Summer 2016

Transcription

1 Spirit of Motown Motown Mission Devotional Guide Summer 2016

2 Day One: Monday Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 1 Corinthians 3:17 (NRSV) Welcome to Motown Mission! Thank you for choosing to serve God alongside the people of Detroit. The work you do today is important work. You may be doing construction, or greening, or feeding wherever you find yourself, God is with you through the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit. As you encounter the city today, remain in the Holy Spirit in order to have a patient an d kind attitude throughout the entire week. Be on the lookout for God this week, and come ready to evening worship ready to share your Motown Minute (a moment in your day when you saw God s presence). How do you feel about the work that is before you? Excited? Scared? Share with your group one thing you are excited about, and one thing you are nervous about. The Holy Spirit is God within us, that sustains us and keeps our energies up in order to do good. Why do you think it s som etimes hard to sustain work when we are relying on ourselves? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit this week? Closing prayer: Holy God, thank you for bringing us to the city to work alongside our new neighbors. Give us patient spirits as we go into the world and reflect your love to all. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

3 Day Two: Tuesday...do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:12 (NRSV) On your second day of work, you may feel like you signed up for more than you bargained for. You are living with new people, staying in a new place, in a noisy city, with different food, and different traditions. This is normal to feel on a mission trip. You are not alone in this feeling! Your group leaders, and fellow group members are here for you. This experience will be a transformational one i f you allow God to transform you. In addition to your group, you also have the constant presence of God alongside your work this week. You are not alone. You have not been abandoned. God will keep you and strengthen you to do the work that is before you. What is overwhelming to you this week? How have you worked to remember God s presence? How can others help you remember? What has been surprising to you? What are you discovering that you did not expect? Closing Prayer: Holy God, when we feel overwhelmed, remind us of your presence. When we feel afraid, be with us and keep us c alm. When we feel alone, reveal your presence to us. When we doubt our time is making a difference, show us how the work we do will be important to the people of Detroit. Thank you for your constant and abiding presence. Amen.

4 Day Three: Wednesday Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? Luke 16:10-12 (NRSV) In today s scripture, Jesus is teaching about greedy managers, and ultimately how to best live in community with others, including being fair in practices. It is important to treat one another fairly, and to think about how your actions will affect another person in your group, or in the groups you are sharing space with this week. When we are greedy, we take away resources that could be used to build up others. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, preached more on money than any other topic. If you think about it greed is a timeless struggle for many people. In the City of Detroit, we often see developers who are greedy, who take advantage of those who are on the margins of society. But, we also encounter developers who are good managers, who promote wholeness in communities, and strive to make communities better. How have you seen development in the city of Detroit while you have been here? Where have you seen newness? How can you be a part of the good type of development when you go home? What types of positive change is needed in your community? Closing prayer: Dear God, thank you for making all things new, including us. Come, Holy Spirit, to sustain our work today, to work for fairness and justice in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

5 Day Four: Thursday Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NRSV) Sometimes (many times!) living in community is difficult, but it also has many benefits. This scripture from 1 Corinthians is usually used at weddings, but it s actually talking about living in community with one another. Being in community can allow you to m ake new friends, and to share good ideas. It also allows people to share resources and care for one another. We see this i n some of our project partners, like the North End Neighbors Block Club. They have done great work in 2016 to work together in order to mak e their neighborhood safer for children and others. What are the benefits to being in community with others? How can being in community with one another teach us about different people, cultures, ways of living, and ways of serving? How can the Holy Spirit work in communities in order to help others share? Closing Prayer: Dear God, thank you for your constant reminder that you are with us, even when being in community is difficult. Continue to show us the path to a world where all people share with others, and all people are valued. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

6 Day Five: Friday So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NRSV) Today is your last day on the worksite! You are probably tired, worn, and weary. The passage from Galatians tells us not to get too tired, or too exhausted that we stumble, and keep from doing what is right. End on a positive, strong note this week! Continu e to do what is right, and continue to do the good work the Holy Spirit has led you to do. This passage speaks of the harvest time. For those in farming communities, harvesting time is a busy time! When we think about the harvest time in our own lives, this c ould also be a busy time of change and newness. This week you have been changed. This week you have stepped out in courage to do the good work God called you to. Finish strong! What new things have you learned about the people in your group? Take a few moments and share with one another where you are proud of your group and how you have grown together. Where have you seen God working in your life this week? Where have you felt the Holy Spirit leading you? Closing Prayer: Creator God, thank you for the ways we have changed this week. Continue to reveal your presence to us as we finish this week strong, in order to share the Good News of your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for your love and your light. Amen.