Jesus washes His disciples’ feet; please read John 13:1-17. 

Chatham Serves - our church’s semi-annual service day - is this Sunday, and you–yes, you!--still have  time to sign up for a project to benefit our community at cccsignup.org. 

Would you join me now in praying for this opportunity? 

Lord Jesus, as we approach Chatham Serves, help us focus less on tasks to complete–although they are important–and more on why we’re serving.

After You washed Your disciples’ feet, You told them, “do as I have done” (v.15), commissioning all Your disciples to serve and, through serving, to model You. To seek every opportunity to minister to hurting, needy, and suffering people. To offer Your followers words of instruction and comfort. To focus on each human being as an individual worthy of attention and love. 

Help us, Lord, as we pray over the list of Chatham Serves opportunities, not to find a task to be done but people who need our help or loving attention. May our motivation be more than an antidote for guilt, but a desire to model Your humble service toward those You love. We’ll be painting that porch railing, writing those cards for nursing home residents, or pulling weeds out of a school’s landscaping plot not to check some good deed off a list, but because we’re following Your command to do as You have done. 

Your Spirit has blessed each of us with gifts to enrich our communities. Lead us to use our gifts for Your glory and the benefit of our neighbors. Draw us to a project, perhaps one only a few have signed up for, so we might discover all the ways You have prepared us for this perfect opportunity.

When You call us to humble ourselves in service, please remind us You are our perfect example. You washed Your disciples' filthy feet, not to make them feel guilty but to learn how true service means seeing a need and meeting it, even if it means humbling ourselves along the way. If the Savior of mankind was willing to take on the role of a slave on the very night He was betrayed, can any service project be beneath us? And although the list for Chatham Serves doesn’t include foot washing, humbling ourselves beyond our comfort level is nothing less than what You have already done. Help us, Lord, to serve with the right attitude–Your attitude–and for the right reason–to help people, not simply to accomplish a task. Otherwise, is what we’re doing really service? Or humility?

Lord Jesus, encourage us to sign up for a project if we haven’t already, and equip us for the task, especially if we feel ill-prepared. Empower us, Holy Spirit, to use the gifts and talents You have given us to serve Chatham County with the joy of the Lord.

In Your name and for Your sake, 

Amen