Hands
7 September 2022
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90.17
Years ago, I learned this prayer especially wonderful for young families and little children:
Hands, hands, hands. Thank you, God, for hands.
Food, food, food. Thank you, God, for food.
Love, love, love. Thank you, God, for love.
Our hands are amazing. Yep, right up there with food and love. Hands, food, and love work so well together. We used our hands to feed ourselves the delicious food God provides. Energized, we can then use our hands to feed others.
The ELCA is known throughout the country as the “God’s Work, Our Hands” denomination. Indeed, this weekend has been designated as the “God’s Work, Our Hands” weekend of service. While we see each day as an opportunity to serve, the ELCA challenges our 3.5 million members to pursue a special act of service. To use our hands to do God’s work.
Tomorrow, you’ll receive the COS announcement email that identifies some serving options for you. A home-building option (a transitional space for those affected by tornado damage) in Newnan with Square Foot Ministries and our own Richard King is one. But if none of those fit with your schedule, please figure something out with your GIFT Group, bible study group, family, or even just one friend. Establish a specific plan. As Psalm 90 puts it, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands.”
How fun to hear last week from Bethlehem-born guest-preacher, Elias Nawawieh, that even the Lutheran congregations in Bethlehem are joining this God’s Work, Our Hands initiative! (Elias is leading our June 4-13 trip to Israel next year; if you missed him, you can catch up here: https://www.eliastours.com/tours/christ-our-shepherd-lutheran-church-holy-land-pilgrimage-with-rev-fritz-wiese). It’s a world-wide effort.
As Jesus used his hands to reach for his mother in Bethlehem, as an adult he used his hands to cure the sick, multiply food, bring sight to the blind, and eventually. . . . receive nails of crucifixion in order to win our salvation. It’s nice that we can activate our hands to show our thanks.
Hands, hands, hands. Thank you, God for hands! And thank YOU for how you might use yours to glorify God and make the world a better place, in Jesus’ name, this weekend.
Trying to do God’s work with my hands, with you,
Pastor Fritz
Let us pray.
Dear God, thanks for our hands. With them, we receive and hold so many blessings you give! Give in our hearts the spirit of the Psalmist, that we would look for ways to use our hands as if Jesus himself were using them. In the name of the one whose hands took the nails so ours could engage life, Amen.
