We’re not meant to keep it together.

A call to worship.

The Spirit has brought us not only into Christ’s communion with the Father, but also into His mission in the world.

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This call to worship¹ reminds us of God’s faithfulness in Jesus Christ, who holds our lives and our community together.

God’s character does not depend on whether our circumstances seem good or painful. Instead, it is clearly shown in the crucified and risen Christ, who entered the depths of our suffering and, from within death itself, brought forth resurrection life.

Christ has united us with himself and brought us into his relationship with the Father. This means the church is not a project of our own making. It is not held together by our similarities or our efforts, but by grace, which takes shape in patience, forgiveness, reconciliation, helping each other, and belonging together. The Spirit binds us to Christ’s mission as well, so worship is not an escape from the world. Instead, it sends us back as people who bring peace, truth, courage, and healing.

Our faith is incarnational, participatory, communal, and missional. Christ has come close, taken our humanity as his own, healed it in himself, joined us to God and to one another, and now sends us to live within the world as a shared witness to the grace that already holds all things together.

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Themes

Union with Christ • Divine faithfulness • Communion with God • Shared belonging • Resurrection life • Reconciliation • Healing • Identity • Life together • Mission in the world • Restoration • Unity • Christ’s nearness • Freedom from performance • Worship • Renewal

Scripture reading

Genesis 50:20
Colossians 1:17
John 13:34

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This call to worship is about the God who meets us in broken places, holds us together in Christ, and brings life where we thought the story was over. It reminds us that worship gathers us into God’s love so that we can carry that love back into the world.

Joseph said this to his brothers: 

You intended to harm me, 
but God intended it for good, 
to accomplish the saving of many lives.


Paul wrote:

Christ is before all things, 
and in Him 
all things 
hold together.


And Jesus said,

As I have loved you, 
so you must 
love one another.

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Prayer

Faithful and loving God,
You are the Lord 
of every part of our lives.
You are present 
in our homes, 
in our work, 
in our friendships, 
and struggles, 
and hopes.

Your character isn’t determined 
when we assess our circumstances
You don’t abandon us 
when life is confusing, 
or painful, 
or unfair.
Even when we cannot see 
what You are doing,
You remain faithful,
and You bring life, 
and healing, 
and hope 
out of places of sorrow.

In fact, 
You have taken the place 
of our deepest evil 
and made the grave itself 
the beginning 
of new, resurrected life. 

Thank You 
for gathering us here this morning.
This church exists 
because You have united us to Christ 
and have drawn us
into the very same communion 
He shares with You. 

Thank You 
that we’re not here alone,
but as a church family
joined together in Jesus Christ, 
and by extension, 
joined in relationships 
of mutual love with one another.

Help us then 
to receive one another 
with patience, 
and kindness, 
and grace.
Teach us 
to carry one another’s burdens,
to forgive one another,
to encourage those of us who are exhausted,
and to be glad with those of us who are joyful.

Lord Jesus,
You are the One who holds all things together. 
All things!
So, hold us together today.
Where we’re hurting, 
bring healing.
Where there’s distance, 
bring reconciliation.
Where there’s fear, 
give us courage.
Where there’s pride, 
teach us humility.
Where there is confusion, 
give us wisdom.
Where there is loneliness, 
remind us that we belong to You 
and to one another.

All of these relational disorders 
You have healed in Christ 
and You have made them available to us 
in communion with each other.

We haven’t been held together 
by friendliness 
or common preferences, 
but by our unity in Christ, 
maintained through truth 
and grace 
and repentance 
and forgivness 
and your Spirit.

Shape us into a people 
who don’t hide from the world,
but who enter it with Your love.
Send us into our workplaces, 
our summer activities, 
our homes
as people of peace.

Your Spirit has brought us 
not only into Christ’s communion with You, 
but also into His mission in the world.
So help us to serve 
and to lead 
and to speak truth 
and to care for others without fear.

Give us the wisdom 
to see what is broken
and the courage 
to do what is right.
Use our gifts 
not for ourselves,
but for the good 
of our neighbors
and for the flourishing 
of the places 
where You have placed us.

Help us to restore damaged relationships 
and damaged systems 
so that Your love is unhindered 
and our lives can flourish

Keep us close to You, Lord.
Do not let success make us proud
or hardships make us bitter.
Remind us that our identity 
is not found in our achievements,
or our position, 
or the approval of others,
but in Your love for us in Jesus Christ.

We haven’t become Your children 
through achievement, 
or performance, 
or usefulness, 
but simply because Christ has come close to us—
closer than we can come to ourselves. 
And He has taken our humanity as His own 
and now holds us in His own faithful relationship with You.

As we worship,
turn our hearts toward You.
Open our ears to Your Word.
Fill us with Your Holy Spirit.
Renew our love for Jesus,
deepen our love for one another,
and prepare us to live faithfully 
in the world that You love.

Receive our worship,
and make our life together 
a witness to Your grace.

In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.

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1. A call to worship given to the small assembly of Christians that gathered in Pathway Church, Beaverdam, Michigan, on July 26, 2026.