The Lord’s Prayer: Quiet your hearts before the Lord for a few moments. Then recall the way Jesus taught his disciples to pray.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Jesus Hymn: He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:16-19 (TNIV)

Today we are focusing on our Connection with One Another.

(Consider) the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. ‘For whom am I toiling’, they ask, ‘and depriving myself of pleasure?’ This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 (NSRV)

For many of us, it is easy to “go it alone.” In our day-to-day business, school, and family matters, we accept all the credit for success, and take in all the blame for failure. Is there some aspect of your life where you have fallen or are struggling, and could use a friend’s help? Or maybe you have not offered a hand to someone you know is in need of support. What opportunities is God offering you for deeper connection today?

Closing Prayer: Almighty God and Creator, sometimes we are in denial that we need companionship. Melt timidity or pride in our hearts so that we may extend a helping hand to another and ask for assistance for ourselves. Grant us the grace of friendship that we may encourage and be encouraged, counsel and be counseled, love and be loved. We pray for your blessing on our friendships so that with you, we may be the cord of three strands that is not quickly broken.  Amen.

After a time of reflective silence, proclaim these words that Jesus spoke: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 (TNIV)

Examen: As the day comes to a close, calm your heart by opening your life before the God of all hope.

My heart is not proud, LORD, eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed myself and quieted my ambitions. I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Psalm 131:1-2 (TNIV)

Apostles Creed: We believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Today we are focusing on our Connection with One Another.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. John 15:9-17 (TNIV)

Jesus says, “I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Do you have a friendship that is as open and trusting as Jesus has described? If so, make a fresh connection with that friend today; if not, reach out to someone whose friendship you would like.

Closing Prayer: O gracious and loving Lord, for friends who encourage with love, support with confidence and comfort with understanding, we thank you, O Lord. For friends who listen without judgment, share without restraint, advise without prejudice, we thank you O Lord. For friends who laugh and cry with us, and for dear friends who walk alongside us, we thank you and ask your blessing. Amen.