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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

Christmas calls for responsible action steps, so begin by admitting to one another: “This is our mess. We have no one to blame but ourselves. Let’s clean things up.” Take responsibility, but do not be hobbled by it. Move on quickly to determine what piece of the mess is yours to untangle, and then set about to do just that. Seek God’s guidance. Rely on God’s help. God won’t be waving a magic wand to fix things for you, but neither does God expect you to go it alone.

—Ruth L. Boling, “A Summons: A Letter from Isaiah of Jerusalem,” Season’s Greetings: Christmas Letters from Those Who Were There (Upper Room Books, 2024)

Today’s Question

What action is God calling you to this Christmas? How can you bring hope, peace, joy, and love into the world? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
—Isaiah 6:8 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

Jesus, help me cast aside my reluctance, throw caution to the wind, and open the doorway of my heart to all the wonder of you, here and now. Amen. [prayer adapted from Season’s Greetings by Ruth L. Boling]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

In this week’s featured book, Season’s Greetings, twelve vividly-imagined letters from long-ago Bible characters who were there for the birth of Jesus speak to the many meanings of Christmas. It’s not too late to order your copy and experience the Christmas story in a new way this year. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Malachi 3:1-4
  • Luke 1:68-79
  • Philippians 1:3-11
  • Luke 3:1-6

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

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