All Are Welcome, ELW 641
Devotion
We cannot publish the text for today's hymn due to copyright limitations. We apologize for any inconvenience. However, you may find the text on Hymnary.org.
I intentionally picked this hymn when I was installed in my second call: first things first. It sings of God's radical welcome for all. It's a hymn for a community trying to participate in God's mission in God's world. When each verse of this hymn begins with the words "Let us build a house," I can't help but recall our first lesson this week about Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Paul in the epistle and Jesus in the gospel say in essence the same thing: "Let us build a house where love can dwell .... Built of hopes and dreams and visions, here the love of Christ shall end divisions."
In our churches, in our families, with our friends, in our nation, "let us build a house where love can dwell ... where prophets speak ... where love is found ... where all are named ...." And let us live the refrain: "All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place."
Prayer
We give you thanks, O God, that in baptism, through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, claim us as members of your family, and raise us to eternal life. Empower us to welcome others as you have welcomed us. Amen.