The People Nobody Picks First

for February 1, 2026

We Gather

A Moment of Shared Reflection Before Worship Begins

Before we begin,
we take a moment to notice who is here
and what we carry with us.

Today’s scriptures tell the truth we often avoid:
that God’s attention does not move first
toward the loudest voices,
the strongest arguments,
or the most impressive lives.

God’s care gathers around those
who are overlooked,
uncertain,
still learning,
still becoming.

So before we sing or speak together,
turn to someone near you,
or join a small group around you,
and take a moment to share—only as you are comfortable.

Consider one of these questions:

When was a time you felt overlooked or underestimated—and what stayed with you from it?
Where in your life right now do you feel unremarkable, unfinished, or unsure?

There is no need to explain or fix anything.
Listening is enough.

You are free to listen quietly, to share briefly, or to pass.

After a few moments,
we will gather our voices
and begin worship together.

Unison Opening Prayer

A Prayer for the Ones God Notices

God of unexpected joy,
we come as we are—

not polished,
not certain,
not chosen first.

We bring the parts of ourselves
that feel ordinary,
unfinished,
or overlooked.

Silence

You meet us here not because we impress,
but because you delight in being with us.

You bless what the world ignores
and call life out of quiet places.

Let this be a space of celebration and welcome,
where grace is shared,
belonging in Christ comes first,
and no one has to earn their worth.

Silence

With gratitude and joy,
we thank you for gathering us,
for blessing the unnoticed,
and for shaping us together
in righteousness, faithfulness, and justice.

We celebrate your presence among us
and begin our worship with hope.

Amen.

Grace Spoken in Every Direction

God’s faithfulness always precedes our action.

You may want to place key leaders in various locations of the room.

Leader (center or among the people):
Hear the good news.
God’s grace does not arrive because we are strong, certain, or impressive.
It arrives because God chooses to be with us.

Silence

Front of the Room:
For those who feel confident today—
God’s faithfulness reminds you that your worth is not something you must defend.

Silence

Back of the Room:
For those who feel unsure or worn down—
God’s grace meets you without conditions.

Silence

Right Side of the Room:
For those who feel overlooked or underestimated—
God’s commitment to you sees you and calls you blessed.

Silence

Left Side of the Room:
For those who feel behind, unfinished, or forgotten—
the grace of Christ stays with you and does not let you go.

Silence

Leader:
This is the good news:
You do not have to be chosen first to be chosen by God.
In Jesus Christ, you are seen, forgiven, and held.

Thanks be to God.

Silence

Response to God’s Grace

A Prayer of Reorientation

God of truth and mercy,
we confess that we have learned the wrong lessons.

We trust what looks strong
more than what is faithful.
We admire what is impressive
more than what is just.
We listen for voices that promise certainty
and miss the quiet ways you speak.

We measure ourselves—and one another—
by success, confidence, and visibility,
forgetting your call to walk humbly,
to love mercy,
and to do what is right.

Silence

Forgive us when we trade your wisdom
for what feels powerful,
when we choose being right over being kind,
and when we forget that the cross
does not reward the strong
but restores the lost.

Turn us again toward your way—
toward justice, mercy, and humble trust.

Amen.

Passing of the Peace

An Embodied Sign of God’s Grace in Christ Jesus

Christ’s peace is not reserved for the confident or the familiar.
It is given freely to all.

As you share the peace today,
look for someone you do not usually notice,
someone you do not usually greet,
someone who might be waiting to be seen.

Go at your own pace.
A word, a nod, or a gesture is enough.

The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

(Share Christ’s peace in ways fitting to your community.)

Scripture

Where God’s Attention Falls

Today’s readings speak with one voice.

They remind us that God’s attention does not move first
toward the powerful, the certain, or the impressive.

Through Micah and the psalm, we hear that faithfulness is measured
not by what we offer, but by how we live—with justice, mercy, and humility.
Paul reminds a divided church that God chooses what the world overlooks.
And Jesus blesses those no one expects to be called blessed.

Together, these scriptures proclaim good news:
God’s grace gathers around the people nobody picks first.

Let us listen for the Word of God among us.

Reading may be shared by multiple voices.

Micah 6:1-8

Psalm 15

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Matthew 5:1-12

Reflection

Learning to Follow Together

In today’s readings, God’s light shows up before everything is fixed.
Jesus calls people to follow him before they have all the answers.
And the community learns—sometimes the hard way—what really holds it together.

Paul reminds us that when we lose our center, we drift apart.
But Scripture keeps pointing us back—not to being right,
but to belonging.

Faith is not something we figure out alone.
It is something we practice together,
learning to listen, to follow, and to stay.

As we reflect,
let’s listen for the call—
and notice who is walking with us.

Shared Reflection

Take time to reflect together. Let the conversation unfold. As a Christian community, you may want to start this discussion during worship, and finish it over a meal, bible study, or community time later in the week.

You are free to listen quietly, to speak honestly, or to pass.

When Readiness Becomes a Barrier

Many of us have learned to believe that we should be ready before we respond—ready with answers, clarity, or confidence.

Where might that assumption be shaping your faith right now?
What possibilities might we miss if we wait to feel ready before we follow where God may be leading beyond our comfort zone.

The Sorting Illusion

Where do you see people being quietly sorted—by success, usefulness, confidence, or visibility?

Who usually gets noticed first?

Who gets passed by without anyone meaning to?

Where do you see yourself in that sorting—near the top, the bottom, or trying not to think about it?

When the World’s Way of Sorting Breaks Down

We often assume that visibility, success, or confidence means someone is blessed.
How do today’s readings challenge that assumption?

Paul says God chooses what the world calls weak or foolish.
Why do you think that idea feels uncomfortable—or even threatening?

Psalm 15 asks, “Who may stand in God’s presence?”
How is that question usually answered in everyday life?
How is it answered differently in these readings?

Micah says God is not impressed by performance, sacrifice, or show.
What kinds of “proof” do we tend to offer instead of justice, kindness, and humility?

Turning the World Upside Down

What would it change if God’s blessing is not a reward, but a gift?

Who might be seen differently if we trusted God’s way of choosing?

Living the Gospel Together

Practicing an Upside-Down Way of Seeing

We do not change the world by fixing everything at once.
We begin by practicing a different way of seeing and living—together.

You may select from one of the invitations below, or commit to another faithful experiment. As a community, you may want to take some time to share your thoughts and pray for one another.

Invitation 1 — Practice Seeing

Notice who is easy to miss. This week, intentionally pay attention to the people who are often passed over:

the quiet person in the room,
the one who struggles to keep up,
the person whose work goes unseen.

You don’t need to fix anything.
Simply notice—and let yourself see them as God does.

Invitation 2 — Practice Receiving

Let go of the need to prove your worth. When you catch yourself trying to earn approval, attention, or belonging, pause. Remember the blessing spoken by Jesus comes before achievement.

Ask yourself:

What would it look like to receive God’s blessing today without earning it? Talk to a loved one, friend, therapist or pastor and wrestle with how you measure your worth. Where is there room for you to grow in this regard?

Invitation 3 — Practice Choosing Differently

Act against the ranking system. Once this week, make a small choice that resists sorting:

listen longer to someone who isn’t impressive,
make room for a voice that’s usually ignored,
choose kindness over efficiency.

These choices may seem small.
They are not unnoticed by God.

(Silence may be kept and communal, or small group prayer may follow.)

Affirmation of Faith

Article 4 from the Belhar Confession

Modern Language

We believe that God is self revealing
as the one who seeks justice
and longs for true peace among all people.

In a world marked by harm and division,
God stands in a special way
with those who are pushed aside, mistreated, or forgotten.

God calls the church to follow this way.

God works to set things right—
feeding those who are hungry,
freeing those who are trapped,
opening the eyes of those who cannot see,
and lifting up those who have been weighed down.

God protects the stranger,
cares for children without protection,
and stands with those who have been left on their own.

God shows us that faith is not empty words,
but a life shaped by goodness,
by seeking what is right,
and by walking humbly in the world.

Prayers of the People

“The Unnamed Prayer”

God of mercy,
you see what the world overlooks.
You hear what goes unspoken.
So we bring before you
not only the prayers we can name,
but the ones we cannot.

For those who are passed by
because they are quiet,
or slow,
or different—