The Upper Room Devotional for 3rd January 2023
Welcome!!! The word of God is food to the spirit man. As you read The Upper Room Devotional Today, may the word of the Lord powerfully impact on you.
Topic: Accessible to All
Rachel Cywinski (Texas, USA)
TODAY’S READING
1 John 3:11-16
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Even in the midst of tragedy, God can inspire hearts to open.
The Upper Room Devotional for 3rd January 2023
As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. – Ephesians 2:20 (CEB)
In 2016 I planned a visit to Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. I wanted to go to this church to be in solidarity with the congregation who had suffered a horrendous attack the previous year.
A few weeks before my visit, I realized that as a historic structure, the church building might be inaccessible to me because I use a wheelchair. In a panic, I found the church’s website, saw the mention of plans for wheelchair access, and dialed the number provided. The person who answered the phone explained that when donations arrived after the tragic event of the previous year, the church decided to complete an exterior elevator that connects the building’s levels. She assured me of access and a welcome.
When I arrived at the church, a woman warmly invited me to a seat next to her. After the service, she took my hands in hers and had me promise to come to the church every time I visited Charleston. Now each time Communion is served, I think not only of Jesus but of how
Emanuel A.M.E. welcomed me without hesitation. Even after the unjust deaths of nine church members, the congregation continued to open their doors and make their sanctuary accessible to all.
TODAY’S PRAYER
God of mercy, we give thanks for your abiding love. Give us courage to open our doors and our hearts to the world. Amen.
Victims of hate crimes
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