As Mr. Rogers asked us – “Who is your neighbor?” Love grounds us as we engage with our neighbors living next door, the people in surrounding communities, and those living beyond our own horizons. Accompaniment calls us to use our God-given gifts and talents as we collaborate, learn from each other, and together walk in agape love.

Questions to Consider:

  • Who is your neighbor? How do you know?
  • What did you discover in walking with your neighbor?
  • As you GO with your neighbors, how do you describe your vocation?

Prayer: God of Accompaniment, you meet us where we are at. Help us meet our neighbors wherever they might be and walk with them. Amen.

Suggested Songs: Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love (ELW 708) & God’s Work, Our Hands (ACS 1000)

Serve With Neighbor: Resources

Serve With Neighbor Handout

Downloadable handout that is great for bulletin inserts, enewsletters, or posting on a bulletin board!

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Prayer Squares

The prayer practice for September is Prayer Squares! Find or make a square and try out this practice that is perfect for all ages!

Download the Practice
Serve With Neighbor Slide

A downloadable PowerPoint slide available for sharing!

Download Slide
Shy Lutheran Conversation Guide

Serving with neighbors will mean connecting with neighbors! Originally shared by the New Jersey Synod, check out some best practices, tips, and tricks for having conversations, hearing another person's story, and going beyond the surface. A handy tool for beginner and seasoned conversationalists alike.

Download Guide
God's Work Our Hands

This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

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ELCA Good Gifts

Serve with neighbors near and far! ELCA Good Gifts is your opportunity to provide critical support to the ministries and programs that mean the most to you and the people you love.

Check Out Good Gifts
Room at the Inn

Read how ELCA congregations across the US are accompanying asylum-seekers with the support of partnerships, trainings, and their communities. How might you accompany others in your own context? What stories are you hearing from those you walk with?

Read the Article
Accompaniment Values

People committed to being ambassadors of God’s reconciling mission have discovered that certain values appear in the praxis of Accompaniment over and over again. These Accompaniment Values, help and support us as we celebrate, reflect, act, and examine our work in God world. Mutuality, Inclusivity, Vulnerability, Empowerment, Sustainability.

Check it Out
Dig Into the Biblical Text

Matthew 18:20: The gospel speaks to the importance of reconciliation, while Romans reminds us of the summation of the law “to love one another” (Rom 13:8). As many congregations celebrate the beginning of ministry years today (some may even call this “Rally Sunday”), what is at the center of what it means to be a community of faith and our calling as Children of God and Christians? How do we steward our relationships? How do we steward, care, and nurture our relationships with our neighbors?

Keep Up the Momentum!

God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday invites us to go out and serve with our communities. Don’t let this be a one-time experience! Who did you identify as neighbors? What stories were shared? What did you learn? How can you keep the conversation going? How will you continue to grow the relationship? What are your next action steps to keep the momentum going?

Community Thank You Notes

You can never say thank-you too much and they are always appreciated! Firefighters, teachers, city officials, medical personnel, police officers, and more serve on a regular basis and often above and beyond! Be creative and share photos, drawings, and kind words to say thank you - get the whole family involved!

St. Benedict's Rule

For nearly 1500 years, countless people have used the Rule of St Benedict to show them how to live in a community. Self-described as a ‘little rule for beginners’, it is an excellent source for us as we Go And Serve with Neighbors!

Read the Full Article
Dragons Love Tacos

What are the ways we serve? This fun children's book leans into what it means to be hospitable, welcoming, and understanding of others - all with the help of some taco-loving dragons!

Download the Book Summary
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