Most of us know the story well. Jesus took a bowl of water, washed the disciples' feet, and dried them with a towel. With this simple but profound act, Jesus showed the disciples of all time how we are to serve one another. 

Every Christian is called to such service in Christ's name - service that responds to real human need, service that reaches out to those Jesus called "the least of these," service that offers nurture and hope in a weary world, service that often goes without recognition or reward, service that expresses in tangible ways God's love and care. 

You may not always call it by name, but most who seek to follow the Servant Christ take up the basin and towel in some way each day. With this devotional booklet we invite you to notice this diaconal service and to celebrate it, in your own life and in the lives of those around you in congregation, family, school, and workplace. 

You might notice someone caring for an elderly parent or another loved one who has special need. You might see a parent giving attention to a child. You might overhear a coworker comforting another who is grieving. You might observe youth taking on a service project. You might experience someone making a decision not for personal gain but for the good of others. You might meet someone who has chosen a life work that is oriented toward serving others. 

When you see such diaconal service, take a moment to give thanks, to celebrate that the vision of the Servant Christ is embodied still today in Christ's people. 

For nearly ninety years, the Lutheran Deaconess Association has been celebrating servants by helping women prepare for ministry as deaconesses and by encouraging the whole people of God in their diaconal lives. Thank you for joining in the celebration. 

Lisa Polito, Executive Director
Lutheran Deaconess Association

This book is offered to supply monthly devotions for congregational groups, and to provide members of the laity with opportunities to reflect together on their own individual and corporate serving ministries. It is intended for use by groups, councils and committees of congregations, institutions and agencies, as well as individuals who may use it for private meditation and reflection.  Please return to this web site to receive the most recent monthly devotion.

You may want to consider ordering multiple copies of Celebrating Servants for use by your congregation or agency's committee leaders or for individual members of your group (see below for details). 

The publication of this book was made possible, in part, by special gifts honoring Carolyn Becker, Catherine Bengson and Stanley Jordan, who recently completed terms of service on the Lutheran Deaconess Association Board of Directors. 

About the Artist
Deaconess Pamela Harrington works for "Helping Hands," an agency that provides home care for seniors. She lives with her husband and two teen-aged children in Orillia, Ontario, where she enjoys spending informal time with a group of local women artists.   Pamela has provided the deaconess community with original art for worship banners, brochures and a logo. "I don't often have opportunities to connect with other deaconesses so this has been my way of connecting, in spirit, with my sisters in the deaconess community." 

Using This Booklet
This booklet is primarily intended for use as a monthly devotion for meetings of all kinds of congregational groups. The themes and selected scriptures generally follow the themes of the church year. We hope these meditations will facilitate reflection on the call of all Christians to diaconal (serving) ministry, and on the many ways in which that call may be lived out in their everyday lives. 

Hymnals referred to are as follows: "LBW" - Lutheran Book of Worship; "HS98" - Hymnal Supplement 98; "WOV" - With One Voice, "LW" - Lutheran Worship. 

We have intentionally begun with the month of September, that time of "back to's" - back to school, back to congregational committees, back to meetings. To further enhance flexibility and your opportunities for use, the devotions are not specific to any calendar year. 

To The Leader
The reflection questions and hymn suggestions have been provided as suggestions only. If a reflection question or hymn seems inappropriate for your group, please feel free to make up your own question/questions and hymn selection(s). 

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.