We Love One Another

If you’ve ever watched a commercial for a new medicine or read the warning labels on the back of your laundry detergent, perhaps you, like me, have had moments where you ask, “Who did what to warrant clarifying that?” (I mean, really, who is going to take a medication they know they are allergic to??) Except, I’m also the person who gets right and left confused when giving or following directions, and I still can’t unscrew anything—be it a peanut butter jar or a screw in the wall—without saying out loud, “Right to tight; left to loose.” It seems that there are skills and ideas, no matter how common sense or complicated we think they may be, that come more easily to some than others. And maybe that’s just part of being human.

Similarly, there are teachings in the church that we might take as common sense and obvious that are actually far from it. Last week, we focused on the first part of John 15 where Jesus very clearly tells us that we, as branches connected to the Vine, are called to bear fruit. Some of our congregants may have heard this phrase—bear fruit—so often, they think they know what it means. Others may be new to church, or new to the United Methodist Church, and have no idea what this means. But in reality, every single one of us can probably use a refresher on what it means for us as Christians to bear fruit. That is what this week’s text is all about!

As you plan worship, then, consider how you can extend and build on decisions you made for last week’s worship. If you emphasized grapevines and fruit or other crops that are native to your area, maintain that theme this week. Even though the vines or fruit are not explicitly named in this week’s text, we cannot understand Jesus’ command to love one another apart from his declaration in last week’s text, “I am the vine, and you are the branches.” So, let the physical space of worship help those gathered remember and connect last week to this week.

Consider, too, what practices you could carry over into this week. If you engaged in a prayer of confession last week, try extending and deepening a time of confession and repentance during worship this week. If you provided time for quiet reflection and meditation, do so again, but this time, include a guiding prompt or question like, “How is God calling you to love your neighbors?” or “Listen for God’s voice calling you friend. How does that feel in your body?” You might also think about specific ways to enliven this text. Perhaps you can follow a prayer of confession with a time of passing the peace, with the instruction to say, “God’s love be with you” to one another. Or maybe you want to incorporate a time of testimony and invite a congregant to share about how Jesus’ command to love one another as Jesus loves us has impacted that person’s life as a disciple. Whatever you choose, find ways to incarnate Jesus’ words that are meaningful and appropriate to your context as the place God has put down roots of Love, so that we might bear the fruit of loving one another in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities.