Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 712)
1 Lord, whose love in humble service
bore the weight of human need.
Who upon the cross, forsaken,
worked your mercy’s perfect deed:
We, your servants, bring the worship
not of voice alone, but heart;
consecrating to your purpose
ev’ry gift which you impart.
2 Still your children wander homeless;
still the hungry cry for bread;
still the captives long for freedom;
still in grief we mourn our dead.
As you, Lord, in deep compassion
healed the sick and freed the soul,
by your Spirit send your power
to our world to make it whole.
3 As we worship, grant us vision,
till your love’s revealing light
in its height and depth and greatness
dawns upon our quickened sight,
making known the needs and burdens
your compassion bids us bear,
stirring us to ardent service,
your abundant life to share.
4 Called by worship to your service,
forth in your dear name we go,
to the child, the youth, the aged,
love in living deeds to show;
hope and health, goodwill and comfort,
council, aid, and peace we give,
that your servants, Lord, in freedom
may your mercy know and live.
Text: Alfred F. Bayly; Music: The Sacred Harp
Devotion
This hymns lifts up some of the central tenets of what we believe and trust as Jesus’ disciples:
-Whose life carried the weight of people’s needs—needs that reach beyond our common understanding;
-Who willingly died in a horrible manner to show God’s commitment to all people;
-Who is present among the weak and the strong, the poor and the wealthy, the desperate and the comfortable;
-Who, we pray, will awaken us to the needs and burdens of others;
-Who strengthens and guides us in our worship to follow God’s guidance in daily life;
-Who invites us to pray, “Lord, may your love and mercy live in us.”
Prayer
Our Lord and our God, give us the courage to give ourselves away, serving and being kind to everyone we meet. In such ways we can be faithful members of your kingdom of love. Amen.