God Is the True Vine: 21st Century Worship Resources for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B

God is the True Vine,
And we are the branches.
Connected to God;
Connected to bear fruit!
Connected to God;
Or we wither away.
Connected to God;
Or useless!
We come to worship God, who is the True Vine.
God, teach us how to remain connected so that we might bear good fruit!

God, we see the historical record of your inclusiveness. We see your grand plan, good news for all, starting at the place closest to us and stretching to the farthest places we could imagine. For the first believers, good news reached out to the Samaritans, the Gentiles, the Ethiopians, and even the Romans who oppressed them. For us, it does not reach so far. Teach us, O God, to think beyond the boundaries of the people we already know and love. Give us an eye to see those you see on the margins, in the outlands, even in outlandish places! Enlarge our hearts so that we have room for any who would receive your good news. Amen.