You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. – Luke 10:27
During Eastertide, Faith Sunday worship focused on the Great Commandment: loving God and loving others. We know extravagant love is not a matter of whether others deserve this kind of love. It’s about who we are as Christians. We have been loved extravagantly. So, we love THEM as we have been loved.
Each week worshippers shared ways they have been loved extravagantly, and these responses were posted on a bulletin board within the church. These are the ways we have been loved extravagantly. These are ways we can love others extravagantly.
What is something kind that has been done for you when you were not feeling your best?
- My husband took my Brownie troop to their International Day because I woke up sick
- A friend got Gatorade for me- no charge
- A neighbor brought me a grief workbook after my dog’s death
- My pastor arranged a family and friend prayer online asking to the Holy Spirit to come. The Holy Spirit came!
- Kind words spoken during a divorce
- My partner covered for me after I ran over my dog
- My friend helped me up from the garage floor when I fell
- Been validated, loved, supported and cared for
- Listening when I’m upset
- Our wonderful congregation provided several meals to my family during extended illness
- My family reminds me how much they love me
- Having a meal delivered when feeling overwhelmed with sick kids
- I was shown compassion and prayer during very dark days. His light came again
- One family took the time to call me every day to lift my spirit when it was lowest to tell me jokes, goodness, stories and positives for me to hold onto.
- A friend who took time from a very bus schedule to visit me at the hospital
- After surgery, David took care of me, and friends visited
- Patience with me when I’m too focused on me
- Receiving a visit and flowers from our Pastor, Charlotte Lohrenz
- Came to visit me at my house. Brought me a goodie bag of my favorite teas, soups, lotions and bath salts
- Delivered meals for us
- Made a meal for my family
- Lifted me up to the light of Christ in prayer
- Did my laundry
- Brought me dinner
- Told me they loved me and prayed for me
- Friends helping transport me through a snowstorm with a broken leg
- Kept calling to check in n me and arranged a big party for me when my job was eliminated
- After my mother died, so many people gave me space to be spacey and sad. And my husband took me for a walk everyday
Who is someone who has loved you extravagantly?
- My grandfather, grandpa and Carl Marawitz
- My wife, Barbara
- My two children and six grandchildren are the light of my life!
- Oran Lakin, both of my children and several friends
- Our sons and their families, here and far away
- My friends
- God gave me so many things, more than I never asked for, loving me for who I am, and a man who has patience
- My husband who has been with me through birth and death, triumph and sorrow
- Family and friends that are like family
- My wife Dianne. She uplifts me, inspires me, adores me, appreciates me, forgives me daily.
- My friend Mycell
- My husband, grandmother, parents, cousins and friends
- My best friends
- My mother, husband and children
- Both of my daughter, my Mother and my Uncle
- My best girlfriend
- My husband and children
- Cubbie
- The church
- My wife and daughter
- My Dad’s parents
- My Dad!
- My daughter
What is something a stranger has done to be kind to you?
- When I was 14 years old, I was at a bus stop crying. I had missed the bus and would get in trouble. A very old woman stopped to ask me if I needed help. I have never forgotten her kindness…
- A stranger opened the door for me and let me go before them at Enterprise this morning
- Praying with me spontaneously
- Community North Cancer Center caring for my husband. They donated a gift card for his transportation.
- Helping load groceries into my car on a rainy day
- A stranger helped me at Wal-Mart get something from the top shelf I couldn’t reach
- A stranger was kind to me when she pointed out that I had moved in from the meat section with the wrong grocery cart
- The welcoming community of Faith Presbyterian Church
- The person at checkout in our food court covered part of my meal when my credit card wouldn’t work. And she was very nice about it!
- A woman in front of my husband and myself paid for our meals at the 10th MCL
- By giving up a seat to me in a crowded place
- When I was stranded after a river boating misadventure and was left with no lofting or money, a stranger gave me $100 and a place to stay, along with kindness
- Buying my coffee for me through the drive-thru
- Last year on my way to the Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, I was waiting in the lounge for my international flight in San Fransisco. I met a fellow Rotarian, Larry. We engaged in conversation and exchanged information. Two days later, Larry invited me (and my wife) to a special 14 course meal and wine tasting. The most elaborate experience ever!
- I lost the key to my rental car while on a business trip in Elwood, Kansas. I was stuck waiting for hours for roadside assistance from the rental company to come bail me out. The last employee of the company I was visiting saw me, stopped, and waited with me. They then offered and gave me a ride back to my hotel and arranged for a ride back to the company in the morning. She never gave me her name.
Who or what, such as an object, song, or words, help you feel brave?
- Hymn: How Great Thou Art!
- Words: “I am always with you”, “Come Holy Spirit”. “Come unto me all yea who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”, “My peace I give you”.
- Great is They Faithfulness
- They Will Know We Are Christians by Our Love
- The Wing Beneath My Wings
- The song I Am Woman
- Prayer
- In life and death, I belong to God
- Jesus
- My children
- Prayers to God always gives me strength to sort out what is important even when I am afraid, or I lack confidence. God always finds a way and makes clear what I can do or what I’m not ready to do.
- My girl Siah makes me feel limitless, my Mama, praying, practicing and preparedness and smiles/encouragement from others
- Reading the Bible and listening to sermons
- Knowing my life is in God’s hands unburdens me
- I feel very brave every time I feel the Spirit. The Spirit fills me with passion of compassion for justice. When the fires of justice burn, I feel brave
- The song Morning Has Broken
- Exodus 14:14
- My mother helped me feel brave- I was very shy as a child. She always taught me to be known. I can still always talk to her in my prayers when I am feeling the need to be brave
- Instead of ‘be brave’, I substitute ‘try to be a better person’. I thank my former partner and my wife.
- Richard Sharpe- Can You Stand?
- My parents
- God’s words and love for us makes me feel brave
- When I see others bring brave and when I realize there’s not much to lose by trying to be brave
What is the name of someone who has shown you forgiveness?
- God
- Jesus, my family and my friends
- In high school, I was rude to another student. The teacher, rather than punishing me, forgave me
- Hilary and Amanda
- The Lord, my husband, my family, my children, my friends and many others
- Cynthia
- Gene, Rosina, Rebecca and Margaret
- Cindy
- Bob and my parents
- Joann
- My parents
What brings peace to a situation?
- Talking kindly and talking about your emotions
- Prayers
- The assumption that other people have good intentions
- Silence
- God’s undying love for us; even when others don’t believe. I feel this brings help to understanding and acceptance for what needs to be done at that time
- Care
- Music, silence and listening to sounds of nature
- Listening
- People who listen to each other and are open to compromise and acceptance
- Empathy, servant leadership, creativity, love and the word of the Holy Spirit
- Listening to each other and other points of view
- Believing God is with me
- A hug!
- Stepping aside and keeping a calm voice
- Patience and understanding
- A calm voice and listening
- Respectfully agreeing to disagree