Page 19 - Lenten Devotional 2023

Saturday, March 4

All Are Welcome - Hymn 641

Hymn 641 - Verse 1

Let us build a house, where love can dwell, and all can safely live. A place where saints
and children tell how hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace. Here the love of Christ shall end divisions; all are

welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
(Click the audio play button on the bottom of the page to listen to the first verse of the hymn.)

Reflection
Historically, it was not uncommon in our country for communities, families and

neighbors to assist one another in building homes, raising barns and bringing in the
harvest. These communal activities connected the community in a deep and loving way
- each person looking out for the welfare and well-being of the others. A place where
hearts were connected, joy was shared and forgiveness was granted.

Love Our Neighbor Reflection

I think when we encounter someone, we should strive to treat them with respect and
dignity and try to see and accept them for who they are, not who we would like them to
be.

~David Pitts (13 yrs with First Lutheran)

Loving my neighbor is complicated. It's messy. It means showing up when they are
hurting and it's inconvenient. It makes me angry. It makes me sad. It means accepting
help when I need it and I don't want to. But it's also beautiful and holy. There is

something absolutely truly lovely about seeing my sweet Kaitlyn being loved and
nurtured and cared for by the people of First Lutheran. Watching her being coached to
be an usher at this current stage of her faith formation by people who are patient, kind,

loving, tender (but also sometimes stern) is what community is all about. I get
emotional just thinking about it. There is a picture I have from when we first joined
First Lutheran about 6 years ago. Kaitlyn was three and she loved Vicar Kelsey. She