We continue reading the Bible with a passage from Deuteronomy 6, the Shema, the central focus of all scripture where God’s people are told to love God with all the heart, soul, and strength.  Jesus combines this with a passage from Leviticus to love one’s neighbor.  John Wesley later perceived that through loving God and one’s neighbor, the believer is on a journey to perfection.  In Deuteronomy, Moses delivers this as the last word before the people enter the Promised Land, and it is a way of understanding that one’s relationship with God be built on love rather than obedience or fear.  The question for us is how to carry out that command to love God.  Another aspect of the scripture from Deuteronomy 6 is to teach all this to our children, and we are called to do that as parents, certainly, but also as members of a congregation that includes children, and also within a community – be it neighborhood, local, national, or world-wide – that includes children.  What does it mean to love God?      (NOTE: Reflecting the importance of the Word, the video begins with the scripture, but once it starts you can scroll back to the beginning of the service if you want.  The entire service is videoed.)