April 11, 2027
Narrative Lectionary – NL141
Acts 10:1-17, 34-48 —Peter’s vision — “Do not call them unclean”—
and call to go to the Gentiles:
Matt 9:36-37 —Jesus’ compassion like a shepherd. “The harvest is plentiful…”
Thoughts
God is always leaning against our tendency to create systems of privilege and exclusion—who’s in and who’s out. As Jesus notes in Luke 4, God extends grace not just to Israelites but to everyone, including Naaman and the widow of Zarephath. Peter now learns the same lesson. God’s grace is for everybody, including people outside the faith. The community of faith is not merely growing in numbers, but in inclusivity. This is not just about evangelism, it’s about who we think is “unclean” or unworthy, who are outsiders. What do we do both to welcome them in, and also to dismantle the systems that keep them out?
Call to Worship
Leader: God of love, you have gathered us here.
All: It is not our merit, but your grace that has gathered us.
You gather us in with all kinds, righteous and unrighteous
Familiar and foreign, faithful and unfaithful as one,
we are gathered by your grace alone.
We come to worship: to praise your grace, to hear your word,
and to be changed by your Spirit.
Speak to us, and transform our hearts,
that we may bear your good news
to those who have not heard your welcome. Amen.
Prayer
God, I confess:
I have already decided
who’s “in” and who’s “out.”
Erase my judgment,
and open my mind and heart
to see what you see
in all your beloved children.
Give me faith to share your grace
with all, even those I feel are unworthy,
by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Response
Leader: God of love, you have created all of us in your image.
All: You love all of us the same: deeply, infinitely, perfectly.
Your breath is in all living things.
Your Spirit is in every person.
We give thanks for those who were different from us,
yet brought us your grace.
With those who are alike, and those who are different,
we are all baptized into one family.
We confess our arrogance, believing we are more worthy.
We repent of our pride, thinking we are the righteous ones.
Forgive us for our divisions.
Forgive us for seeing some as unclean or unworthy.
Heal us of our fear of those who are different.
Bless us through those who are not like us.
You have baptized us in your compassion for all.
Send us in love to every soul: to love the outcast,
to befriend the outsider, to include those who are kept out.
God, in your perfect love, make us one.
Suggested Songs
(Click on titles to view, and hear an audio clip, on the Music page.)
Bearers of Light (Tune: Morning Has Broken)
God, how you love us, hold us and bless us,
reign from above us, lead us by hand
Call us to healing, bound by your Promise,
your Word revealing, by your command.
Great holy giver of life and wonder,
deep like a river your blessings flow.
Gladly we give you praise and thanksgiving:
gifts we will give wherever we go.
Baptized, anointed, filled with your Spirit,
we are appointed bearers of light:
for liberation, servants of justice,
bringing the nations joy and delight.
Family (Tune: Children of the Heavenly Father)
Children of one loving Mother,
we are each a sister, brother.
In your image, God, you mold us;
in one family, Love, you hold us.
Though we strive with one another,
hurt our sister or our brother,
in our struggles and our wronging
still is blessing and belonging.
We are not alone, but rather,
God, you grant us grace together.
May we learn to love the Other
as our sister-self or brother.
As one family, God, you gather
all your children here together.
Help us shed all walls and labels:
bring us home, Love, to your table.