Love That Transforms

for Monday September 14, 2026

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Opening Prayer

God of boundless love and endless mercy, you have poured out grace before we asked, calling us toward transformation and renewal. Your love invites us to leave behind the shadows of what we know and to step into the light of your ever-creating power. Break open our hearts that we may be born anew, shaped by your love into vessels of your peace and justice. Teach us to let go of what holds us back, to embrace the new life you offer, and to reflect your love in a world longing for change. In your triune presence, we find our hope and our strength. Amen.

Call to Worship

We come, hearts weighed by the familiar.

God’s love reaches into our depths, inviting us anew.

In our comfort, we build walls that hold us back.

God’s love breaks through, offering transformation.

We yearn for change, yet fear it may overwhelm us.

God’s love assures us, shaping us from within.

Let us gather to encounter this love that makes all things new.

Thanks be to God, who invites us into rebirth.

Hymn of Praise

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, GTG #366

Grace Spoken

In the vast expanse of love beyond our understanding, God has acted decisively through Christ to transform us from within. It is by God’s grace that we are already held, already embraced, already made new. There is no condition to this love; it is the foundation upon which we stand, the breath that gives shape to our lives. Before we have turned, before we have reached out, grace has reached us, speaking into the depths of our longing and fear. Know, beloved ones, that Christ has already opened the door to new beginnings, and in him, we are set free. Rejoice in this truth: in His love, we are transformed and made whole. Amen.

Responding to God’s Grace

Merciful God, your love reaches out, surprising us with its depth and breadth. We confess that we often seek comfort in what is known, resisting the change your love invites. We cling to old ways and miss the grace of transformation you offer. Forgive us for our hesitation, for our reluctance to be made new. As a people, we have ignored your call to rebirth, holding tightly to the familiar patterns of this world. We have failed to reflect your love in our actions and to embrace the new life you offer through your Spirit. Transform us, O God, that we might become vessels of your renewing grace, sharing love that gives life to the world. Amen.

Sharing the Peace of Christ

In the light of God’s boundless love, we are called to transform and be transformed. The peace of Christ is given, not earned; it is ours to receive and to share.

This peace is a gift, freely offered.

Let us greet one another as Christ has greeted us, sharing the peace that transcends understanding.

May the peace of Christ dwell richly among us.

Turn to your neighbor, bless them with this peace, and be reminded that in Christ, we are renewed.

Peace be with you.

The Written Word

In our daily lives, we often hold tightly to routines and narratives that are comfortable and secure. We cling to what we know, despite a longing for something more profound, something transformative. Yet, remaining bound to the familiar can keep us from experiencing the deep renewal that true love promises. This love, when embraced, has the power to reshape our innermost selves, enlivening our spirits and, through us, touching the world beyond.

Listen now for the Word of God.

This is the Word of the Lord.

A Reading from the Psalms

Psalm 98

Psalm 98
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Gospel Reading

John 3:13-17

John 3:13–17

Jesus and Nicodemus

13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that God gave the only Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Jesus and Nicodemus

1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Judeans. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from God being with him.” 3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”
4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”
5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”
10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that God gave the only Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Those who trust in him are not condemned; but those who do not trust are condemned already, because they have not trusted in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

John the Baptist’s Testimony about Jesus

22After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and was baptizing. 23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized. 24John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.
25Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Judean. 26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified—here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
27John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.’ 29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.
31The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. 33Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified that God is true. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hand. 36Whoever trusts in the Son has eternal life; whoever refuses the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.”

Notes

v13The Son of Man is defined by descent rather than ascent. Authority is grounded in origin, not achievement.
v14–15The serpent image links lifting up with healing and trust, not explanation of atonement. The necessity (“must”) is stated, not justified.
v16God’s love is directed toward the world, not restricted to the faithful. Trust, not knowledge or achievement, is named as the response.
v17Salvation is framed as God’s purpose; condemnation is not God’s stated aim.

Notes

v01–02Nicodemus comes “by night,” a narrative detail that signals both caution and incomplete understanding without explicit judgment.
v03“Born from above” deliberately carries double meaning (from above / again). Jesus does not resolve the ambiguity, and Nicodemus hears it concretely.
v05“Water and Spirit” is presented without explanation or ritual definition. The text does not specify mechanism or sequence.
v06–08Flesh and Spirit are contrasted as sources of life. The wind/Spirit metaphor emphasizes freedom and invisibility rather than control or predictability.
v11–12The shift to first-person plural (“we speak…”) broadens testimony beyond Jesus alone, without identifying its scope.
v13The Son of Man is defined by descent rather than ascent. Authority is grounded in origin, not achievement.
v14–15The serpent image links lifting up with healing and trust, not explanation of atonement. The necessity (“must”) is stated, not justified.
v16God’s love is directed toward the world, not restricted to the faithful. Trust, not knowledge or achievement, is named as the response.
v17Salvation is framed as God’s purpose; condemnation is not God’s stated aim.
v18–21Judgment is described as exposure to light rather than an imposed sentence. Human response to light reveals allegiance.
v29–30John the Baptist interprets his role relationally, not competitively. Decrease is named as fulfillment, not loss.
v31–36Heavenly origin and testimony are emphasized repeatedly. Trust and refusal are presented as present realities, not merely future outcomes.

Vocabulary

v15–16πιστεύω (pisteuō) — to trust; to rely upon; more relational than intellectual assent.
v16κόσμος (kosmos) — world; the ordered human realm, not morally neutral yet still loved.

Vocabulary

v03ἄνωθεν (anōthen) — from above; again; intentionally ambiguous in direction and time.
v05πνεῦμα (pneuma) — Spirit; wind; breath; carries layered meaning throughout the passage.
v08φωνή (phōnē) — sound; voice; emphasizes effect without visible source.
v11μαρτυρέω (martyreō) — to testify; to bear witness; relational rather than argumentative.
v15–16πιστεύω (pisteuō) — to trust; to rely upon; more relational than intellectual assent.
v16κόσμος (kosmos) — world; the ordered human realm, not morally neutral yet still loved.
v18κρίσις (krisis) — judgment; decision; exposure rather than mere punishment.
v19φῶς (phōs) — light; revelation that uncovers rather than merely illuminates.
v29φίλος (philos) — friend; one who stands in attentive joy, not possession.
v36ζωὴ αἰώνιος (zōē aiōnios) — eternal life; life of the age to come, already present in trust.

Love That Transforms

1. How might the goodness of God’s creation, as celebrated in the psalm, invite us to participate in acts of love and justice that transform our lives and communities?

2. What are the familiar patterns and comforts in your life that might keep you from the transformation that God’s love offers?

3. In what ways does the idea of being “reborn from within” challenge your current understanding of faith, and what might it require you to risk or change?

4. How does the love that God shows in sending the Son into the world reshape our understanding of love in our own relationships and communities?

5. Can you identify ways that God’s transformation in your life might ripple outward, bringing life and hope to those around you?

Hymn of Reflection

Sent Forth by Your Blessing, GTG # to verify

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God, whose love calls the world into being, patiently reaching across time and distance, inviting us to leave behind our certainties for the unknown that faith promises.

We trust in Jesus Christ, who stepped into our world with hands open, showing us the depth of God’s transforming love. In his life, death, and resurrection, we see a path that invites us to be born anew, even when we tremble at the cost of such change.

We rely on the Holy Spirit, gentle and persistent, who stirs in us courage when we cling too tightly to the familiar. The Spirit whispers possibility into our hearts, encouraging us to risk love’s renewal.

Together, as God’s people, we hope for a world made new. We are part of a story bigger than ourselves, rooted in love that never fails, where each transformed heart can ripple grace and life beyond its own reach. Amen.

Prayers of the People

God of boundless love,
Receive our prayers.

We pray for your church, called and gathered in love across the earth. May its witness be a beacon of your transforming grace.
Shape us to be agents of love and renewal.

Guide the leaders of nations, that they might seek justice and peace for all people. Turn their hearts towards mercy and understanding.
Empower them to act with compassion and wisdom.

We lift up your creation, wondrous and fragile, longing for restoration. Stir within us a commitment to care deeply for the world you have made.
Help us to cherish and protect our earthly home.

In your compassion, remember those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. May they find comfort in your unending love and presence.
Bring healing and hope to those in need.

Bless our own community and its families. Unite us in love and understanding as we share our lives and journey together.
Fill us with your Spirit of harmony and kindness.

For those among us who are grieving, and for those who struggle to see your light, enfold them gently in your peace.
Give them strength and the promise of new beginnings.

We trust in your transforming love, O God, and offer our prayers in the name of Christ, who makes all things new.
Amen.

Hymn of Sending

Live into Hope, GTG #772

Sending

Go in peace, held by the transforming love of God.
Trust in the promise of God’s renewing grace.
Be refreshed by the Spirit who sustains you.
And love as God has first loved us.
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you, now and always.
Amen.

Reflections for Later

Sharing God’s Word Together

For Newcomers

Welcome. It’s a word used so often, it can fade into background noise. Yet here, in the embrace of this congregation, it takes on life anew. You may be stepping into church for the first time or rediscovering it after a long absence, and this space is held open for you. Every gathering is a tapestry woven from diverse stories and experiences, each thread contributing to something beautiful and larger than any one of us individually. You might bring questions, and those belong here too. Here, we explore the possibility of transformation through a love that reshapes not just our actions but our very being.

Consider the ways we often cling to what is familiar, as though it were safety itself. In today’s world, it’s easy to allow routines and assumptions to define us, keeping deeper change at arm’s length. Yet, there is a quiet invitation in this community to explore the idea that love can transform us—deeply and profoundly. This isn’t the sentimental love so often depicted in movies or songs. It’s a transforming presence—a force that works within to renew and recreate. When we allow ourselves to be touched by this love, our hearts open, and suddenly, our lives seem poised to bring light to others.

The scripture we engage with invites us into a story that is larger than any single person, a narrative of divine love reaching out toward us, calling us to be reborn in ways that enrich both our lives and the world we inhabit. As newcomers, you stand on the threshold of these stories. You are invited not just to hear them but to be part of unfolding them anew, both in this community and beyond its walls.

  • What does it mean for you to be changed by love, and how might this idea feel different from ideas of change you have encountered before?
  • Where in your life do you sense an opportunity to be transformed rather than simply improved or fixed?
  • How do you envision participating in a community that sees itself as part of a larger story of transformative love working in the world?

For Those Rooted in This Community

Within the deep rhythms of a community long gathered together, there is comfort in the familiar. We know the prayers, the hymns, and the faces that fill our sanctuary. This familiarity is a strength, a testament to the bonds we’ve forged over time. Yet within those very bonds lies a subtle challenge: the danger of becoming so rooted in our routines that God’s transforming love is merely an echo, rather than an impetus for change. The call of God’s love, however, is not static. It continually invites us into a dynamic dance of renewal, urging us to open our hearts in ways we might not expect.

The Gospel reading speaks of rebirth—a theme that can feel abstract to those of us settled into our way of life. But this rebirth is not a call to abandon what we cherish or to turn away from the foundation of our shared life. Instead, it is an invitation to allow God’s love to continually reshape us. It asks us to examine where our lives might have settled into comfort, where fresh winds of grace are needed to awaken our spirits. God’s love is an act of creation, always seeking to form us anew so that we can breathe life into the community and beyond.

When we think of transformation, it’s tempting to focus on grand gestures. But perhaps the true work lies in small acts of opening, of allowing God’s love to whisper new possibilities into our very ways of being. What happens when we greet our neighbor with renewed curiosity? What shifts when we approach worship with the expectancy of meeting God’s love afresh? These are the subtle yet profound changes that can breathe new life into our gathered and scattered moments.

What habits or routines in your worship life feel comfortable but might be closing you off from experiencing God’s transformative love?

Reflect on a time when you felt a nudge to change or grow that you initially resisted. How did you eventually respond, and what was the result?

How might your understanding of “rebirth” shift when considered as an ongoing process rather than a singular event? What might that look like in our communal life together?

For Churches Without a Pastor

In a season without a pastor, the church community has a unique opportunity to experience transformation in its collective life. The absence of one installed leader invites us to recognize the gifts and callings within each member, encouraging shared responsibility and fresh voices in worship and decision-making. Love that transforms is not limited to individual hearts — it breathes through communities, reshaping them to be more aligned with God’s vision for the church. Embracing this shared leadership is an act of faith, trusting that God’s Spirit equips each person with what is needed for the common good, inviting us to see leadership as a shared song rather than a solo performance.

John reminds us that God’s love, infinite and expansive, took shape in the world through Christ so that we may be reborn. God offers transformation from within, a rebirth that can infuse our lives and the life of our congregation with hope and purpose. Letting go of what is comfortable allows space for God’s renewing work to flourish in our midst, changing not only our individual lives but also our communal witness to the world. This holy disruption is not a burden, but a gift — an invitation to be made new together, embodying the love that reaches beyond ourselves to bring life to the surrounding community.

As you consider this season of shared leadership, what unexpected gifts and voices have you discovered in the absence of a pastor? How might embracing transformation change your perspective on uncertainty within the life of your church?

How can the congregation actively support and nurture each other’s gifts during this time? What new practices or approaches to worship may emerge from this shared experience?

What does it look like for your congregation, and for you personally, to welcome the transformative love of God into familiar places, letting something new take root?

Need Help?

Follow the link for tips and pointers to help you lead and design worship using this resource.

Tips for Leading Worship

Rights and Use

© Church Commons. 2026

Written by Rev. Matthew J. Skolnik unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

These materials may be used and adapted for worship and educational purposes within Christian communities. They may not be sold or redistributed for commercial purposes without permission.

Resource Details

Date: September 14, 2026 (The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)

Scripture: John 3:13-17

Theme: Love That Transforms (Psalm 98, John 3:13-17)

Lectionary: RCL Year A

Scripture on this page is from The Shared Word Translation (SWT), an ongoing translation project within ChurchCommons.org.

Scripture on this page is from The Shared Word Translation (SWT), an ongoing translation project within ChurchCommons.org.

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