Adapted from Colossians 3:14-17

Leader: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

All: Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

Leader: And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

All: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Leader: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

All: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Adapted from 1 John 4:7-15 (WEB)

Beloved, 

Let us love one another; for love is of God

And everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. 

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.

By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in them, and they in God.

(WEB, adapted for liturgical use)

For the beauty of human love

Brother, sister, parent, child.

Friends on earth and friends above,

For all gentle thoughts and mild;

Lord of all, to thee we raise,

This, our hymn of grateful praise.

We come to you, today, Lord, to offer our thanks for all you do.

 Submitted by Austin D. Hill